Twice-Born by Scottish Ballet at Theatre Royal, Glasgow Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Deborah Mackenzie

Tonight, we were treated to an incredible double bill; Schachmatt (Checkmate) by Spanish choreographer Cayetano Soto and Twice-Born by Dickson Mbi (UK) who is an award winning choreographer and renowned dancer in the Hip Hop dance community.

Schachmatt (Checkmate) is a fun and quirky equestrian-themed contemporary ballet, dancers moving across a giant chessboard.  I really loved the costumes which looked like smart horseback riders with shirt and tie; hard hat and ‘shorts’ which showed each movement as they moved across the board.  Quoting Cayetano Soto ‘It’s very joyful and playful and has a sense of humour, but it’s also fast and technical’.

Contemporary ballet is very different to classical ballet, there is no narrative which opens the audience’s imagination and lets the movement, music and design talk to you and take you on a personal journey.  This brought many chuckles and for me I still wonder how they can get themselves into positions I would probably never manage.  Their timing is spotless, its like they are a breathing machine where each breath is synchronized.

After the interval we had the pleasure in watching a world premier ‘Twice-Born’ choreographed by Dickson Mbi.  Dickson Mbi has a background in street dance and specifically the style called ‘popping’.  Twice-Born is a dark tribal journey that appears to be set on the side of a mountain.  The dancers are bare foot and move in jarring and rhythmic movements.  In the beginning it was as if the woman was about to give birth; the joining of the dancers in a circle around her, moving in time to a heartbeat and the birth into a community where each one relied on the other.  It portrayed the strength of woman, the matriarchs of society holding it together.  The circle of life was represented including death and rebirth.

This is a dark tribal story where the music, movement and beat spoke deep into your consciousness, it wasn’t just about the dance, the steps or music.  It was about everything becoming one, just as the dancers were alone yet they were one.  It was extremely powerful; the background of Dickson Mbi was born on stage.  It was as if his ancestors were celebrating his choreography and his telling of an age long lore of a community that need each other.

As this was the first time my husband has gone with me to see a ballet, I was a bit apprehensive that he wasn’t going to understand it; or enjoy it.  Yet, I was WRONG!  He was transfixed on the dancers, the music and show in its fullest.  He even commented, ‘I saw the horses’ from the first show.  Then after Twice-Born, he said that he felt, saw and was mesmerised with the tribal story and music.

I would recommend going to see contemporary ballet for first timers as it gives you the opportunity of using your own imagination, plus seeing a variety of different dance forms all in one show. Nothing is more beautiful than dancers moving in unison with one another.

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/scottish-ballet-twice-born/theatre-royal-glasgow/

Tickets are from £15

Rating: 4.5/5