KVT – Dementia and Abandonment

Beautiful and powerful performance that still has me thinking deeply.

I wept twice….tears of wonder during the dance and tears of frustration that I had to miss Walman’s talk at Goethe the next day.

My young Vietnamese friends who attended, a couple virgin to contemporary dance, were engrossed and left the theater talking, talking, talking about both pieces of dance. Amazing really!

Separating the two European solos was the National Opera Ballet reprise of ‘Minus’ which I first saw when it was premiered at the Opera House in early 2010 with a rawness and sensuality and energy, and dare I say, sexuality that had me wowing. When it was reprieved later in the year in the same location it had become a pallid imitation of European based Vietnamese choreographer, Nguyen Ngoc Anh’s punchy and expressive intent.

This reprise worked more effectively and the play with planes of perspex were still nicely attention grabbing.

With all that versatile and volatile young male energy in the company, all they need is an understanding and talented choreographer to grab control and mould a masterpiece.

If only I had the bucket loads of money and necessary permission to found a local contemporary dance group…no holds barred and no intrusions as to propriety. What a company it could become on the world stage!

Oh you wonderful Belgians and you German Goethes for giving us such wonderful stuff.

And roll on next weekend. It’s Goethe again with another, not to be missed,’ Cracking Bamboo’!

Apologies to the dancers and choreographers if I’ve mashed up their intent!

Photos for ‘Minus’ and ‘Get a revolver’ by Hoang Duc Thinh, courtesy Goethe-Institut

Photos for ‘Lamento’ courtesy Délégation Wallonie-Bruxelles au Vietnam