Katrina Houghton reviews the opening night of Hofesh Shechter & Friends
“You can now close your eyes, sit in a comfortable position… you are safe now.”
From darkness and smoke, two dancers emerge. The stage is endless and the light is theirs alone. Percussive beats and eerie voices disrupt the silence. Bodies pulse and react to the rhythms. The audience are hooked in a trance. Fragments, Hofesh Shechter’s first choreographic work, opens the evening. Previously performed by the man himself, Shechter now appoints two members of his apprentice programme to showcase their unique talent in a piece that fuses intense passionate movements with fragile gestures. This work is an honest, and at times, humorous portrayal of the dynamics in a relationship. Though there is no direct narrative the dancers navigate the space creatively as if compelled by the atmospheric music and lighting.
tHE bAD is the evening’s centrepiece and immediately encapsulates with unsettling guitar riffs and form-showing costumes that enhance this captivating spectacle. This is Shechter’s most recent work and the second part of a trilogy that features five dancers from his renowned collective. The performance is more current than other dance I have seen before. The soundtrack is challenging and intentionally makes you feel uneasy at times. The dancers move with a degree of freedom that gives space to their personalities and makes you want to move with them. In a recent interview, Schechter explained that he would start rehearsals from 10pm, often working until 4am to experiment with the vibe in which work was created. There is a sense of controlled chaos; freestyle encounters juxtapose with choreographed formation. Primitive, fierce movements align with ragged beats in an almost animalistic way that evokes a sense of escapism.
What is special about Shechter is that he is not only a choreographer but also a composer who writes every score for his productions. The dance relies on the unique soundtrack, and part three of the evening – a live set from three-piece instrumental band 72% Morrissey – gives an opportunity to see the collaborative relationship between Shechter and his ‘friends’. Musician Joel Harris, who leads the band, frequently works with Shechter. Raw and loud, 72% Morrissey play heavy, unsetting music. Get ready for the noise!
These performances have the ability to resonate with a new generation, challenging preconceptions of what contemporary dance can and should be. It is light hearted yet seeks to communicate and push boundaries. It seems fitting to say “expect the unexpected”, and is an appropriate first show for HOME, setting the tone for their groundbreaking intentions and bright future ahead.
Catch Hofesh Shechter & Friends on Fri 1 and Sat 2 May.