Review: What The Body Does Not Remember at Northern Stage

The Show That Stomps

What The Body Does Not Remember

With Timeless Youth Dance

NewcastleNorthern Stage

Until 18^th March 2015.

Timeless Youth Dance in rehearsal

The evening began with a free evening outdoor performance with the Northumberland based Timeless Youth Dance Group, who are aged 13-16, and have been working with choreographer Nadia Iftkhar and musician Mariam Rezaei to create an intricate new ten minute piece which has been inspired by What The Body Does Not Remember. The eleven dancers threw themselves into their performance and fully deserved the warm applause that they received.

Wim Vandekeybus originally brought What The Body Does Not Remember to the world in 1987. He had created a brutal, physical show which could list Iggy Pop amongst its fans. His Ultima Vez company now revisits the piece with a new cast 28 years later and it has lost none of the original power. This is not a pretty show but it is very thrilling. The accompanying music by Thierry De May and Peter Vermeersch pulsates as the journey proceeds.

What the Body Does Not Remember Photo: Danny Willems

The company of dancers took full advantage of the venue’s wide stage. At the start it seemed to be a case of the trouble of getting to sleep. The tempo soon escalates with bricks flying across the stage in a potentially dangerous game of catch. This was not the only point that the dancers had to really trust one another as they needed to be pushed out of the way just in time before the object lands. The cast start stealing each others jackets and towels in an anarchic game of tag. The dystopian nightmare was inter-dispersed with lighter moments which made the audience chuckle.

What the Body Does Not Remember Photo: Danny Willems

After an examination of the uncomfortable side of relationships that seemed to border on bullying, the talented and hardworking cast had a go at throwing clothing catalogue style poses to comic effect. The melodrama had quite a lot of stomping action which needed pin point timing to ensure no accidents.

An exhilarating exploration of physical theatre. What The Body Does Not Remember is another triumph for the Dance Touring Partnership who have brought the show across for the UK tour.

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

What the Body Does Not Remember Photo: Danny Willems

Dancers:

Germán Jauregui Allue, Jorge Jauregui Allue, Guilhem Chatir, Léa Dubois, Claire Lamothe, Pavel Mašek, Eddie Oroyan, Aymará Parola, Revé Terborg

Director, Choreography & Scenography: Wim Vandekeybus

Original Music: Thierry De May and Peter Vermeersch

Rehearsal Director: Eduardo Torroja

On The Web:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dancetp

Website: www.ultimaveztour.co.uk

Tickets:

What The Body Does Not Remember? Tuesday 17 - Wednesday 18 March, 7.30pm

Recommended Age: 14+

Post-show discussion: Tue 17 Mar

Running time: 85 min (no interval)

Tickets: £24, £19.50 & £14.50 / Students & U21s £12

Website: http://www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/what-the-body-does-not-remember

The tour’s final date is 20^th March at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre. Details: http://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/shows/performance/ultima-vez

Preview: Timeless Youth Dance at Northern Stage

Young dancers take inspiration from legendary choreographer for performance at Northern Stage

Timeless Youth Dance

Northern Stage

Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 March

Timeless Youth Dance in rehearsal

Timeless Youth Dance, a group of young dancers from South East Northumberland, will perform a short piece outside Northern Stage inspired by the choreography of Wim Vandekeybus and his seminal work, What the Body Does Not Remember– at Northern Stage 17-18 March as part of a world tour. 

What the Body Does Not Remember Photo: Danny Willems

Aged 13-16, the group has worked with choreographer Nadia Iftkhar and musician Mariam Rezaei to create a new ten minute piece which will be performed before What the Body Does Not Remember. Find out more about how the Timeless Youth Dance group have been developing their project in this short film.

What the Body Does Not Remember Photo: Danny Willems

The amazing debut of Wim Vandekeybus and Ultima Vez in 1987 stunned the world of dance at the time. Vandekeybus and composers Thierry de Mey and Peter Vermeersch received the prestigious Bessie Award in New York for this ‘brutal confrontation of dance and music’ (New York Times). 28 years later and with a new cast, the show still stands as one of the most exciting pieces of dance ever made. Since 1987, many other choreographers have been influenced by Vandekeybus's explosive physical style but he'd like audiences to see where it began, "With What the Body… we had to invent the language, the rules, so it's the basis of everything we've done since.”

Rachel Adam, Director at bait who have commissioned the project, said, “With our partners, we have supported young people from South East Northumberland to take part in an exciting year of dance training and mentoring with choreographer Nadia Iftkhar. From auditioning to become part of the Timeless Youth Dance company to performing live outside Northern Stage, these young dancers have been extremely passionate about taking part in something totally new and ambitious.”

Timeless Youth Dance in rehearsal

Jessica Woodward, aged 15 and from Cramlington, said, "For me, contemporary dance was something totally new and different coming into this project. But now, I feel as if I have learnt so much about the style and techniques."

What the Body Does Not Remember Photo: Danny Willems

What the Body Does Not Remember is presented by Dance Touring Partnership and performed by Ultima Vez, and is on at Northern Stage, Newcastle on 17-18 March. Timeless Youth Dance will perform outside Northern Stage at 7pm on both nights.