LUNA

OVEREXPOSED Choreography Iraxte Ansa - BRB Company - credit Katja Ogrin

Luna by Carlos Acostos, Birmingham Royal Ballet at Birmingham Hippodrome from 3 to 5 October, and at Sadler’s Wells on 22 & 23 October.

Review by Ann Cee

Here is ‘Luna’, part three of Carlos Acostos’ Birmingham trilogy which follows ‘City of a Thousand Trades’ and ‘Black Sabbath’.  If you’re looking for something new in the world of ballet-dance fusion with inspiration from women from every corner of the globe, ‘Luna’ might be for you. 

Luna blends the tight formal lines we associate with classical ballet dancers with movements taken from diverse, global traditions such as Argentine tango, Maori haka and many more.

Athleticism, team work and personalised solos all have their own appeal though the broad theme of ‘womanhood’ was sometimes uncomfortably portrayed such as when creepy men invade a woman’s space.

There were standout performances in each of the six scenes (Terra, Learning to Dream Big, Unwavering, Empowerment, Overexposed and Luna) which all had their own style and had been choreographed by a different woman who brought together mini casts of exceptional, young, lean, diverse dancers.   

UNWAVERING Choreography Thais Suarez - Beatrice Parma - credit Katja Ogrin

There was also an army of very young chorus singers who embodied the sea at the beginning and Luna at the end of the show.  These youngsters were a great addition to the show as they filled the auditorium with assertive coordinated movement, poetic nature and a powerful, protest song.

The Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy provided the show with some extremely memorable, scratchy violin sections that made my fingers curl and my jaw clench, as well as a beautiful foundation stone from which elegance, grace and passion could be evoked and grow.  Marianna Hovhanisyan provided a sweet soprano and Themba Mvula offered a lovely round, baritone.

Tickets available for shows this week from https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/brb-luna/