Reviews of Hubert Essakow’s Ignis have given praise to the choreography, production, performances and venue following the show’s premiere at The Print Room in Notting Hill last week:
“Essakow, a former Royal Ballet soloist who went on to forge a new career in contemporary dance, is now an associate artist at the Print Room, an enterprising West London venue with heaps of atmosphere and not a lot of space. He uses what he has cleverly, aided by Lee Newby’s simple set, which provides reflective surfaces to give the impression of greater depth. Jon Opstad’s commission score is a complex tapestry of prepared piano, violin, exotic percussion and electronic rhythms that adds a pensive atmosphere without taking over.” Debra Craine, Times.
“There is a powerful ambiguity about the mesh of emotions involved… Essakow depicts these tensions with a mix of Sara Kestleman’s poems (which she recites) and the free-flowing moves of contemporary dance” Sarah Frater, The Stage
“Melancholic, beautifully orchestrated dance-drama … The afterglow stays with you.” Sanjoy Roy, Guardian ****
“With just the right amount of spoken word … I was utterly engrossed and the hour just flew by… I will never underestimate the power of dance after tonight” Jane Hobson, Everything Theatre ****
“The intimacy of the piece pours forth not only from the space itself, where the audience is allowed to eye the impressive technique from very close by, but mainly from the way Kestleman combines strength with frailty” Senne Vercouteren, A Younger Theatre
“a choreographer who is set to go far, I’ll definitely be back to see what Essakow develops” Isabella Van Braeckel, www.londontheatre1.com
Ignis runs at The Print Room until 1 March. Click here for more information about Hubert Essakow.
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