NDT2

Eden Court Theatre - 11/03/22

An extraordinary evening of contemporary dance. One of the most exciting dance experiences enjoyed in my lifetime. NDT2 is one of a kind.  

After a long hiatus, this outstanding company returned to Inverness to a sold-out house. After endless streaming and mediocre productions on the BBC this reignited the joy of watching live dance performed by a company which can only be described as phenomenal. NTD2 is an extension of Nederlands Dans Theater. It acts as an extension of NDT by creating a full creative dance company concentrating on development and research. It gives young emerging dancers the opportunity of a creative space to collaborate with a diverse range of choreographic voices. The result is a dynamic and unrestricted company of dancers who stretch the realms of performance with superb technique and energy. Their physicality, lines, strength, footwork, and interpretation must leave other companies breathless with envy. This is a group of dancers who are dedicated in every aspect of their performance, from amazing feet, fluid arms, lightness, and speed along with the ability to move you emotionally. They have a reputation as a cutting edge name for contemporary dance.  

This was a triple bill. The opening piece was a new work by renowned choreographer Marco Goecke, ‘The Big Crying’. Born in Wuppertal he joined the company in 2013 as an associate choreographer. Over the subsequent years he has been in much demand from many dance companies worldwide winning international awards. This work starts with a single flame burning on high. Starting with one lone dancer others appear from the dark with very fast fluid minute steps over a white stage. This is a personal journey about loss and grief the dancers dressed in costumes that resemble the curtains of a hearse. The movements are broken, fast and encompass primal screams and fiery power. Goecke explains it is a piece about ‘parting and everything we have to burn’. Throughout the 33 minutes the choreography is relentless, giving the dancers little respite from the onslaught of the fast, exacting movements, with the whole company on stage at times. There are moves which echo birds of prey, the dancers vocalising to their movement. Thrilling and exhilarating stuff.  

After a short interval we are treated to ‘Simple Things’ by Hans Van Manen. This is a dynamic quartet created for the young dancers in 2001 and has been regularly reprised in their repertoire. Opening and closing with a powerful duet for two men, evolving into several pas de deux with two female dancers this is lyrical and charming with a simple but loving theme. Again, beautiful lines, beautiful feet, and the ability to cover the stage with swift lightness. Outstanding technique and moving interpretation.  

An interval to recover and then another new work this time ‘Impasse’ by Johan Inger. Following a successful career as a dancer with NDT he made his breakthrough as a choreographer in 1995. Since then, he has choreographed for nearly every major European dance and opera company. This is a barnstorming finale. It strikes me as the perfect piece for these times, highlighting the modern desire to embrace everything new and often baseless. A piece for generation Z. Gradually the joyful trio, dancing to compositions by Ibrahim Maalouf, emerge from a house lit onstage. They are joined at intervals by others who drag them into their hedonistic newness through peer pressure and desperation to embrace newness.  In the end it all comes to nothing. A large screen gradually descends closing their lives into oblivion. This is the point! A thought provoking piece which was made more exciting by the spacious yet intimate stage at Eden Court.  

The audience rose instinctively to give a standing ovation. It left me feeling that the opportunity for seeing European works of this calibre is very slim. Since Brexit, have we become a cultural backwater trapped in our own ideas of excellence? 

As a final treat there was the opportunity for a Q and A with two of the dancers. Hastily changed into track suits. Sophie Whittome (Canadian) and August Palayer (French- trained in Majorca). Both started with ballet training and found contemporary dance later. A chance for younger members in the audience to talk about motivation and background. Congratulations to them when I suspect they were eager to race back to digs for a meal. 

A tribute to this outstanding company which we in the highlands were lucky to enjoy.  

NDT2 are returning to Scotland in May and have a date at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh 6 and 7th May 2022. Book a ticket if you can.