Review-Last Touch First-Hong Kong Arts Festival
27-2-14
Only one word is really needed – mesmerizing. See the details below.
I must admit that that I went into this performance knowing nothing about the performance company and little about what was going to be performed. I am glad that I did because I went in without any preconceptions. Therefore, I hope to tell you only enough to get you interested in seeing this performance.
Kylworks is a Dance Theatre company conceived by Nederland Dance Theatre Artistic Director Jiří Kylián. Through this company he expresses his ideology that “All Ages Dance”. With the two pieces presented this evening, they proved that.
The featured performance was preceeded by a film entitled ‘Car Men’. This is a short re-telling of the classic opera “Carmen” presented in black and white silent film style. It presents the four primary characters of Carmen in a run down world without any definable time, other than sometime after the 20th Century when cars began zooming around. Using only movement and expression, varying degrees of fast forward motion, flash-back flash-forward and flashes in between, these four performers were able present the inner workings of some very complex characters. I kind of think of it as Carmen being thrown into Charlie Chaplin’s “City Lights” while riding a roller coaster.
The second piece was entitled, “Last Touch First”. This was a Chekhovian examination of a photograph come to life. While the first piece had a lot of humour and artistry and touches of special effects, this piece was raw performance. The six outstanding performers, dressed in late 19th Century attire, presented a moment of time in time bending slow motion. For over an hour, they used near continuous fluid movement to examine the inner fears, desires and foibles of their characters. They tirelessly held their tension and focus throughout. Then they had bursts of faster paced movement when they could no longer hold their emotions in check. What was fascinating was how deep the characters were and how complex the story was when they barely had discernible movement. Mr. Kylián mentioned in his choreographic notes that the audience will find themselves focusing on one moment on stage; then, when they glance elsewhere an entire moment has happened without them seeing. I tried my very best to not fall into this trap and observe every moment, which should have been possible at that pace, but could not. It begs the question, ‘how much are we missing in our lives? How much do we miss in our fast paced world?’
What I did enjoy the most was seeing how Mr. Kylián’s adage played out. The performers on the film and stage have all been dancing for a long time - some longer than others. And, I felt that it was this maturity which lifted these performances to a level of insight, control, focus and intensity rarely reached by beginning performers.
I will most certainly be keeping my eyes open for further performances by Kylworks.
Take the time to take in Kylworks production which will have a second performance on the 27th of February 2014 at 8:00pm at the Kwai Tsing Theatre.
The Co-Choreographer of “Last Touch First”, Michael Schumacher, will also be giving a Master Dance Class about ‘instant choreography’ from 3:00pm – 5:00pm on the 27th at Y-Space in Kwai Chung. Space is limited, so book quickly.
Last Touch First is playing at the Kwai Tsing theatre through February 27th. For more information, click here.
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