Shobana Jeyasingh: Material Men redux, The Place
The choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh offers an intriguing exploration of rhythm, location and shared history in her latest virtuoso dance piece
Shobana Jeyasingh company, Material Men Redux photo Chris Nash
Material Men redux is a new full-length version of 2015’s Southbank Centre commission, Material Men. Touring this season, the expanded work will make its London debut at The Place.
Uniting two distinctive dance artists, who nevertheless share an Indian heritage, Material Men redux features Bharatanatyam soloist Sooraj Subramaniam and hip hop dancer Shailesh Bahoran.
The precise eloquence of Indian classical dance is the antithesis of hip hop’s raw energy; the two dance forms really could not be more different.
What these two men have in common are the stories of colonial migration and plantation labour that shape their heritage. Jeyasingh weaves these dark realities into potent imagery for a powerful, politically-nuanced dance piece.
The brutality of change and discovery of new ways of belonging is dynamically danced to an original score by Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin with additional sound design by musician John Burton (aka Leafcutter John) - played live on stage by The Smith Quartet.
Themes of identity, humanity, times gone by, place and travel are often evident in Jeyasingh’s inquisitive, imaginative work, brought to life through her signature fusion of classical Indian dance with contemporary dance technique.
Material Men redux will appeal to anyone who seeks to be challenged by performance art – anticipate so much more than a simple duet.
Uniting two distinctive dance artists, who nevertheless share an Indian heritage, Material Men redux features Bharatanatyam soloist Sooraj Subramaniam and hip hop dancer Shailesh Bahoran.
The precise eloquence of Indian classical dance is the antithesis of hip hop’s raw energy; the two dance forms really could not be more different.
What these two men have in common are the stories of colonial migration and plantation labour that shape their heritage. Jeyasingh weaves these dark realities into potent imagery for a powerful, politically-nuanced dance piece.
The brutality of change and discovery of new ways of belonging is dynamically danced to an original score by Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin with additional sound design by musician John Burton (aka Leafcutter John) - played live on stage by The Smith Quartet.
Themes of identity, humanity, times gone by, place and travel are often evident in Jeyasingh’s inquisitive, imaginative work, brought to life through her signature fusion of classical Indian dance with contemporary dance technique.
Material Men redux will appeal to anyone who seeks to be challenged by performance art – anticipate so much more than a simple duet.
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| What | Shobana Jeyasingh: Material Men redux, The Place |
| Where | The Place, 17 Duke's Road, London, WC1H 9PY | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Euston Square (underground) |
| When |
28 Apr 17 – 29 Apr 17, 20:00 End Time TBC |
| Price | £12-£18 |
| Website | Click here to book via The Place |