Sardoville, A Matter of Impression, Chisenhale

Reinterpreting the double bill format, Sardoville removes the traditional interval and blends discrete works together. The company’s signature deconstructed style keeps the momentum going by bringing backstage processes onstage with choreographed set and costume changes. No curtains, no illusion – just perpetual performance.

This means Sardoville’s latest offering, A Matter of Impression, is essentially a single work. Significantly, though, half was created in-house and half was devised by a guest choreographer.

Part one, Impressed Upon Us, is a reworking of Sardoville’s 2014 piece The Dancing Plague. Inspired by peculiar dance phenomena throughout history, it investigates the diverse ways in which people connect with dance as a means of expression and escape.

Specifically, Impressed Upon Us explores the 'dancing plague' that swept across Europe in the 1500s and the dance marathons of the 1930s.

Part two, Attempting to Impress, is a new work by the internationally acclaimed Italian choreographer Luca Silvestrini.

Reflecting Silvestrini’s trademark exposé approach, Attempting to Impress is a show about a show. It provides a biographical insight into what it means to be part of a new company; what it takes to create a new production; and the process of selling that production to the dance world. Just what do performers need to do to impress?

The dancing is set to a mixture of popular contemporary electronic music choices, in addition to original scores by Caterina McEvoy and Donna McKevitt.

Both intertwined pieces are performed by Sardoville’s dancers: Phil Sanger, Azzurra Ardovini and Josh Wille. This trio of contemporary dance artists met at Phoenix Dance Theatre before establishing Sardoville in 2014. Together, they strive to give dance theatre a unique, intelligent and virtuosic twist.