DU17, Rachid Ouramdane, TORDRE

Following on from a successful world tour, Rachid Ouramdane’s captivating new work, TORDRE, is set for its London premiere as part of Dance Umbrella 2017.

A French-Algerian choreographer, Rachid Ouramdane is known for exploring the ways in which dance and biography intersect to create contemplative and revealing portraits. In TORDRE Ouramdane creates two juxtaposed solos for performers Lora Juodkaite and Annie Hanauer dancing against the background of a sparse set where two swirling slim metal structures are the only props.

Juodkaite and Hanauer are long-time collaborators of Ouramdane. In TORDRE they perform intensely physical solos before a moving duet that unites them through their contrasting physicalities. Lithuanian Juodkaite spins dizzyingly, then compulsively on the spot, while British-born Hanauer moves freely, her prosthetic arm simply an extension of her movement. They are simultaneously strong yet fragile.

Ouramdane’s choreography, evolving among atmospheric lighting to an insistent electronic soundtrack, becomes hypnotic; or, in the words of the New York Times, ‘original, peculiar, limited, irksome, haunting.’

Over the years Ouramdane has engaged in a number of successful collaborations with companies such as Lyon Opera Ballet (Superstars, 2006, All around, 2014) and Candoco Dance Company, for whose 20th anniversary he created a special piece, Looking Back in 2011.

Very few tickets remain for this one of performance of Ouramdane’s TORDRE at Artsdepot, so you should book now to ensure you don’t miss one of DU17’s most exciting performances.

The ticket price includes a free post show talk with the choreographer and the performers.