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Ballet Revolucion - 
State Theatre, 25 June - 


Ballet Revolucion is a touring group of Cuban trained dancers accompanied by a live band. This show is all about entertainment, bringing the spirited energy of a pop music concert into the traditional theatre space, and on opening night the audience responded with enthusiastic appreciation. The choreographers of this program, Aaron Cash and Roclan Gonzalez Chavez, have created a series of routines which integrate ballet movements and sometimes pointe work with elements of contemporary, jazz and hip hop dance. It is a brash mixture of dance styles and cultures, all filtered through the dancers’ Latin American vivacity and rhythm, yet it makes for a unique and satisfying night of entertainment.

The performance opens with a few of the dancers doing class work at portable barres while a teacher gives them verbal instructions. This is a window into the usually unseen preparation that goes into creating and maintaining dance technique at a high level but it does not last long. After a few minutes these dancers are joined by the rest of the company and the first of a whole series of dance routines is underway. The live band starts with Latin American music, eventually progressing to well known songs by current artists like Sia, Lorde, Beyonce, Rihanna, Jessie J. and Usher. There are a few older songs by artists like Prince and Ricky Martin, but the emphasis is on chart toppers of the last few years. It was slightly disconcerting to see the reinterpretation of choreography to a song like Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”, when the choreography from her accompanying music video is almost as well known as the song itself. But overall the choreography is strong, and it was certainly performed with spice and vigour by the dancers.

A series of costume changes see the dancers move from midriff baring tops to shirt/pant combinations, and from short sequinned skirts and hotpants to fitted black unitards and tights as the different routines require. Costume designer Jorge Gonzalez has done well to put together such a wide range of different “looks” for the show and most of them are very effective. There is understandably an emphasis on showing off the male and female dancers’ fit and toned bodies but this never took interest away from the dancing itself so was no problem. Although a number of dancers stood out I am unable to identify them as they were listed only as a group in the program.

Standout routines include a contemporary dance with two couples choreographed by Aaron Cash, a rhythmical and percussive “mambo” routine choreographed by Roclan Gonzalez Chavez, and a dance for three couples set to Lorde’s “Royals”.


- GERALDINE HIGGINSON

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