Introdans Kerst-gala

Introdans Kerst-gala

26/27/28 december 2013 at Schouwburg Arnhem

It should have been a snowy day for the time of the year, but of course Arnhem was shrouded in grey rainy clouds. Nevertheless the Introdans’dancers didn’t need the romantic white snow to perform a Christmas-gala, they just needed their recurring audience, and indeed the public did recur!

For the people who don’t know what the Introdans Christmas-gala is: it’s a special dance performance at the end of the year, a tradition which brings the whole company of Introdans (including Introdans Youth) and her audience together for the last time of the year.

While the audience entered the theatre, pictures of dancers in Christmas´style were projected on the curtains. They were made by an Introdans dancer.

The first piece “Lines” was divided in 4 little pieces, as solos and duets, choreographed by two Introdans dancers. My first thought was: ‘yeah, being a dancer of Introdans would be wonderful, but the possibility of making  your own choreography and performing it, must be the ultimate dream!’. There was a life painter on stage, Albert van der Weide,  whose paintings were projected on the wall. This created  a nice contrast effect with the dancer(s) on the same time.

The second piece was “Evening Song” choreographed by Jiří Kylián and danced by dancers from Introdans for the youth. Three harmonic and beautiful duets choreographed together as one piece: you really could see that it was made by a master choreographer.

Claire de lune was the third piece choreographed by Jody Sperling, a female dancer dressed up with huge white wings. When she moved around in circles, I got easily imagined a whirlpool or a really big, surrealistic bird. On her white costume were colorful lights projected. I think this little piece was based and inspired on a historical piece of Loïe Fuller, because it was almost the same choreography and concept.

The fourth scene was Descamino de dos, choreographed by Mattia Russo and Diego Tortelli. I liked it a lot,  because of the mysterious atmosphere. The two  South-European male dancers moved really smoothly and secretive. The décor also contributed to this ambiance: there was one strip lifted off the floor and the dancers used it almost like an attribute, it was part of the dance.

Master of Puppets was a humoristic and energetic piece for a group dancers:  the costumes made an important  contribution to this humoristic flavor.  Strange looking skirts with remarkable hats were putting the attention.

After the break I could enjoy a  dance of  my favorite choreographer and artistic leader, Ed Wubbe. It was called Messiah, a neo-classical dance piece.  40 minutes of high level technique, impressive jumps, complex dance phrases, difficult lifts, many turns and a lot of pointwork for the female dancers: wonderful to watch. It was dynamic and alternating in up tempo on beautiful baroc-music of Handel.

So you can conclude that this evening was quite a diversity of dancers and choreographies. After the performance the audience had the opportunity to make a toast with the dancers on another good new year for Introdans. Travelling home my goal was clear: once I should like to dance in a big theatre, dancing  a brilliant choreography on beautiful composed music, just like Introdans showed her audience at the Christmas gala.

By Gijs Hanegraaf