FESTIVAL DANCE PREVIEWS
MEPHISTO WALTZ Sympathy with the devil
If you’ve ever seen a performance by Anton Adasinsky you’ll know that Mephistopheles, the seductive demon from the Faust legend, is the role he was born to play. ‘Very often theatre critics were mentioning devilry, the infernal, even Satanism in characters I played, although I always think about myself as a good clown,’ says the founder of multi- award winning physical theatre company Derevo. The Russian-born choreographer finally
began to take these allusions seriously when director Alexander Sokurov invited him to play Mephistopheles in his movie adaptation of Faust, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2011. Adasinsky is particularly looking forward to performing the piece in Edinburgh where the company has built up a formidable following. ‘Reaction to our shows is different in every country, but Edinburgh is special. This is a strict audience but all those awards we’ve been getting for the last ten years tell us that we’ve passed the exam successfully.’ (Allan Radcliffe) ■ Assembly Roxy, 623 3030, 4–27 Aug (not 13, 20), 8pm, £12–£14 (£11–£13). Previews 2 & 3 Aug, £9.
FLASH MOB TV dance stars join forces
Performance-based reality TV shows get a bad rap for chewing up talent and spitting it out again. That’s where this production by World Dance Management steps in with a slick new show spotlighting dancers who shot to prominence on programmes like Sky1’s Got to Dance and BBC1’s So You Think You Can Dance?
Tommy Franzen was a muscular, fleet-footed contestant on the first edition of the latter series. He looks back on it as ‘an amazing challenge and experience.’ But, he adds, such shows are ‘only tools. It’s up to you to make yourself successful.’ In Flash Mob he, a Latin-grooving duo from the
film StreetDance 2 3D, the groups Alleviate and A-Team and others join forces for what Franzen dubs ‘a celebration of dance where everyone gets a chance to shine.’ The director is Gary Lloyd, whose CV is topped by the Michael Jackson tribute musical Thriller Live plus work with a slew of big name from Tom Jones to Leona Lewis. So get it while it’s hot. (Donald Hutera) ■ Assembly Hall, 623 3030, until 27 Aug (not 14), 6pm, £14.50–£17.50 (£12–£15.50). Previews 2 & 3 Aug, £10.
WHAT THE FOLK! Dancers prove there’s no place like home
Based in Tralee in County Kerry, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland is keeping traditions alive, by looking to the future. Training performers in music, dance, theatre and song from a young age, it ensures there’s always a new crop of talent rising through the ranks. Having been part of the company since childhood, the dancers bringing What The Folk! to this year’s
Fringe have invested a huge amount of themselves in the production.
‘Our work lives and personal lives often become intertwined,’ says dancer Joanne Barry, ‘which makes the piece all the more interesting. We all know each other very well, and I think that helps the intimate nature of the show.’
The word ‘intimate’ couldn’t be more accurate, as What The Folk! takes place not in a theatre space,
but the performers’ own (Edinburgh) home.
‘During rehearsals, the director asked us to talk about ourselves and the things we really care about,’ explains Barry. ‘So the show took on a very personal nature and lent itself to the idea of people coming to see us in our home and have a chat!’ Despite being billed as ‘part storytelling, part impromptu knees-up’, there are no fictional stories to
be told here. What you see in this unique show, is what you get.
‘There is no acting in the piece,’ says Barry, ‘every single story you hear is real. It was a challenge, but it has also been a very special and rewarding experience to have strangers come in to your home. We also relish the chance to talk about our company, our style of dance and singing, and the way we work because we’re very proud of it.’ (Kelly Apter) ■ Dance Base, 225 5525, 3–19 Aug (not 6, 13), 3pm & 6pm, £12 (£10).
RHYTHMIC CIRCUS – FEET DON’T FAIL ME NOW Tap to the rhythm of life
Described as ‘a cross between a dance show, a rock concert and a comedy hour,’ the Minnesota-based Rhythmic Circus is back for a full run after just one week at the 2011 Fringe. Featuring four hard-hitting, rapid-fire dancers and original
rock/blues/soul/funk music from seven musicians, their 2012 show is called Feet Don’t Fail Me Now! This, says director Nick Bowman, could also be a company motto: ‘In these economic times we want to get people back in touch with a spirit of celebration and remind audiences that there’s always a reason to get up, let go and dance.’ The collective’s goal, adds Bowman, is to become ‘a
household name, like STOMP or Tap Dogs’. ‘As the show progresses you get the feeling we’re more like a secret club with a much deeper bond than originally anticipated.’ (Donald Hutera) ■ Assembly George Square, 623 3030, until 27 Aug, 3.40pm, £15–£17 (£13–£15). Previews until 3 Aug, £10.
50 THE LIST 2–9 Aug 2012