Siobhan Davies Dance Company ; Eighty Eight..

The piece opens with circles of light on the floor and a duet running in and out of them, only visible when passing through the beams of light. The theme of circles is apparent throughout, portrayed in movement, formation and paths they follow. There is also a theme of industry, seen in the stark setting and the familiar, repetitive motifs. 

When watching this performance, the most interesting and predominant feature was the use of space and formations. The company constantly consume the stage and demand attention to every part of it. The dancers exit and entrance the stage almost without notice to join the dance, creating a visually captivating and enthralling piece. The use of unison in the tight, structured formations show the dancers as one, moving as a unit; this then moves on to separate dancers breaking away from and returning to the formation, sometimes passing through the formation whilst moving through the space. The formations dance between straight lines, boxes and collections of threes. 

This piece inverts the traditional conventions firstly by the dancers being barefoot and wearing draping, loose clothing, as opposed to the established tutu and pointe shoes of ballet. It also involves release based, unrestricted movement and pedestrian gestures and actions. Eighty Eight doesn’t have a central focal point, unlike traditional dance, and there is neither hierarchy of dancers nor a principle dancer whom the rest simply frame. The space is filled and used effectively. 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this piece and was continuously kept entertained and intrigued throughout.

I watched this performance on the

Siobhan Davies Archive:

www.siobhandaviesreplay.com