Wayne McGregor’s Deepstaria toured Hong Kong
Sir Wayne McGregor, the resident choreographer of the Royal Ballet in London since 2006, also directs his own modern dance company, Company Wayne McGregor. Nine dancers from this troupe performed last weekend in the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District.
They have brought on this Hong Kong tour a new 70-minute long work “Deepstaria” which had just been premiered in June in the renowned Montpellier Danse festival in France. The title is the name of a species of translucent-skinned jellyfish. This perhaps refers to the final third section of the work which is set in a blue-lighted marine world. The first section is in a pitch-black darkness, and the lighting gradually brightens up in the second section.
The nine dancers were all superb technicians and excelled in McGregor’s vocabulary of off-balance turns, high extensions, and sharp and edgy steps. There was a good range of solos, duets, trios and ensemble dance throughout the evening.
In terms of choreography, one of the best parts is a double pas de deux at the end of the first section. The two couples seem to mirror each other. Also impressive is a long duet in the second section for two white-clad male dancers which is full of tenderness and expressiveness.
There is also an exciting female allegro solo with lots of twists and turns in the final blue water section. However. there is too much frenetic dancing in this final section which suffers from longueur.
Lighting effects are often striking and innovative. Particularly memorable is a part early in the beginning when lighting suggests a heavy rainfall. This is repeated towards the end of the work. There is also a pleasing interlude which sees dancers bathed in a cone of red light. The complete darkness in the beginning returns in the finale before the curtain fall which is preceded by an agitated female solo.
The sound score is by Nicolas Becker and Lexx. It has the novelty of being different at every performance, because it uses artificial intelligence to re-compose itself every night. The sound score consists of puffing, humming, and pounding noises. At times it just sounds like an earthquake. However, it does become tedious after a while.
Overall, Sir Wayne McGregor’s “Deepstaria” is undeniably an original and absorbing work though the final section is far too long. The West Kowloon Cultural District deserves praise for inviting this famous British choreographer’s company to show its newest work to local audiences.
Photo – Ravi Deepres
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