Issy Cory
Two dancers emerge onstage in bright white hazmat suits, accompanied by a swinging disco ball. As they swerve and dodge the disco ball, and each other, they gradually peel off their outermost garments to reveal the living, breathing humans underneath.
We see the two of them react to the different noises of the outside world, from the jaunty French songs being played a few doors down, to the jarring sounds of a police siren. We stay with them as they navigate the emotions that these worldly threats present, as they continually turn back to dance, to keep fear at bay.
Visually, Dancehall Blues is breathtaking. I’ve seen disco balls before, but never used so daringly as CoisCéim do here. As an object, they adorn it with such life, flinging it about the stage, looking at it with such intensity, a sense of knowing. It immediately signals to us that the idea of dance, the symbol of the disco ball, is the life force of this production.
The use of a tilted mirror also provides a beautiful other dimension to the entire space. It is a simple yet remarkable addition to the set. Ambitious projection is used in conjunction with these reflections, portraying an intriguing blurring of worlds between real onstage action, and the imagined.
In terms of design, the bar is set extremely high for Dancehall Blues. I cannot say that the content, the choreography, or the story meet this tall standard. There simply isn’t enough going on to satisfy any kind of narrative onstage. We are left with questions about where we are, what the relationship is between our performers, or what the specific threat is of the world we’re in. The audience is left to infer far too much.
Due to this lack of direction, the choreography fails to illustrate any key plot points. Without a doubt, the performers have an insane talent, but the movement struggles to illustrate anything with clarity.
Sadly, the only section with a clear purpose was when our male performer got out some weightlifting equipment to ‘impress’ his partner, who then in a forced moment of #ThisGirlCan, also picked up the barbell. We’re not telling a story about their desire for each other, about dating, or about the pressures on men to prove themselves, so what is the message of this section?
Aside from this, the soundtrack is a wonder. Rhythmic and bass-y tracks are punctuated by more blues-y tunes, which gives a great flavour to the entire production. It is this element that lifts so many of the disparate units in Dancehall Blues.
Recommended Drink: Vin.
You can catch Dancehall Blues at DB1 at Assembly @ Dance Base from Aug 19-24 at 14:40. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake Mace
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
