Ballet Black at 25 is a scintillating double bill consisting of Hope Boykin’s … all towards hope and Ingoma choreographed by Mthuthuzeli November.
The former illustrates how hope is an essential part of modern day life and Boykin’s voiceover is both calming and exciting in pursuit of this. Quite often, the dancers are positioned in a straight line, revealing unity and compelling uniformity.
There is a fantastic pas de deux with the couple seen with the male displaying his dexterity and subtlety to his onlooking partner. The piece benefits from a jazz soundtrack by Bill Laurence which also has a heartbeat as its basis that witnesses the dancers’ energetic and totally exhausting efforts. And a soloist really dominates the stage with an intense and profoundly moving performance.
David Plater’s lighting adds much to the piece, too, from cold blue spotlights to warm deep ochres and sienna that is also further developed by Jessica Cabassa’s costumes. What really holds all this together is the dancers’ synchronicity of movement, whether it be striking a dashing pose or taking a daring leap.
Ingoma choreographed by Mthuthuzeli November is a dramatic depiction of the South African miners’ strike and sees the dancers violently waving their pickaxes and a confrontation with the authorities that sees the female performers widowed during a violent, furious fight.
In contrast to the fighting, a female soloist performs en pointe and adds a softer touch to the narrative, though the conflict continues. In this way it drives home the impact that the male violence has on the more all-pervading community, including women. Again, the score is beneficial to the action, this time Peter Johnson ear-piercing metal-bashing.
Ballet Black deserves the favourable response of both critics and audience, who here at the Leeds Playhouse were given a standing ovation and ecstatic applause. This is an example of how dance, while still being beautiful, can apply itself to difficult cultural and political questions and comment on these.
A simply brilliant evening with splendor, passion and an almost overwhelming energy.
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