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Review: East London Dance Currents 2010 - Collabo ‘10

Critically speaking, Dance Currents seems to be getting better and better each show. Avant Garde Dance celebrated their fifth anniversary with in a massive collaboration of dancers and choreographers for Collabo ‘10

Words: David Barros

Collabo 2010 at Stratford Circus For those who have never been to Collabo before, there are two approaches to the concept: Collaborations and interpretations. The theme of the interpretations this year was love, set to a soundtrack produced by Mikey J Asante.

Starting the night with a high energy military routine, hosts Avant Garde opened with A Guardian Salute, a ten minute set that really set a standard for the night with some incredible lyrical routines picking up on minor subtleties the average choreographer wouldn't dare attempt (but Tony Adigun did).

All-girl dance group Myself were the first group with their interpretation, I Love, a sensual take on what they love. There was some interesting choreography using canon routines and the symbolism of a red cloth being passed from dancer to dancer.

Question Dance, Jasmine Saulo and Stephen Aspinall from Avant Garde, performed a short number called How It Feels To Fly to a lyrical R'n'B song, although it felt a bit short, especially as their second routine was quite short.

Alias interpreted love in Love's Little Ironies, hinting on the behaviour of how people act when they’re in love.

The third performance from Avant Garde came in the form of a collaboration with Stone Throwerz, dedicated to the late hip hop producer J Dilla in J Dilla Changed My Life.

Consisting of songs produced by J Dilla, dancers came out wearing the letters J.D.I.L.L.A. on their t-shirts. There was a slight krump flavour to the moves, while some routines were just jam moments as the dancers shared their inspirational moments to soundbites of them talking about him.

Stone Throwers were also the first group of the night to put to use of Stratford Circus' projector, with rolling artwork of J Dilla playing throughout the set.

Animaneax, in true Animaineax style opened their set to an overly dramatic (but produced as a joke and to show off their creativity) video reel of the group introducing themselves for The Boy Band.

Their set cut parts of their Move Like Michael Jackson final routine and some new material including a routine to JLS... Choosing to be different from other groups, it was a typical Animaineax routine that worked because they’re the Animaineax, just like their routine at We R One in 2009.

After the interval there was a discussion on the impact on TVs collaboration with dance, chaired by East London Dance’s diarist Kweku Aacht and featuring a line up of choreographers including Kenrick Sandy, Tashan Muir, Tony Adigun and guest featuring Mark Calape.

The general consensus of the discussion, which was also shared with audience members in its brief fifteen minute slot, was that reality TV is a good thing for street dance to give it exposure, but it’s the people producing the show who are in control of what is put out; the only way to break down misconceptions is to cross over to mainstream, only feeding them small chunks until they understand, and only be ready to give producers what they want if given enough space to keep your dignity.

After the discussion the action picked up in a very big way with a collaboration between Avant Garde, Wet Wipez and Kate Sicchio in charge of the visuals. As the lights dimmed on the stage for Small Flames, Big Fires, from the audience emerged several cloaked figures rattling chair fittings, while more, wearing tights over their faces climbed down from the stage rigging.

The stage invasion caught most of the audience off guard and screams could be heard in the dark from frightened audience members confused by what was happening.

On the dimly lit stage it was difficult to tell who was part of each company, which was probably part of the mystery, but like Avant Garde’s first set, this was another hugely energetic set with a very tribal feel matched to the krumping.

There was even a moment that included several dancers spitting water over one of the soloists before their solo to amp them up! Whatever reaction Wet Wipez were chasing, they got it.

Trilogy were the third group to interpret love with Love Your Haters, which was another routine to Mikey J Asante’s instrumental.

Spread Expression and Yaye Dib Afrodance opened with an amber sunset wash in silhouette for After Sunset... In The Shadow of the Moonlight.

Mixing African dance with contemporary, it opened with a lyrical routine before moving on to a rhythmical routine to percussion battles. Limbs flailed everywhere with energy, which likens it to Local International’s Frusted by Adiaspora Collective.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Collabo, all of the groups from the past five years (see top of box, right) in Uber Collabo.

With a darkened stage and spotlights in different corners it was like small flashes from all of the guest acts as they ran on for their part. Set to a piano instrumental of Jay Z’s Run This Town it did actually have the impact of something quite epic, which it was considering they managed to squeeze 13 groups onto the stage, choreograph several pieces for each and plan stage entrances and exits.

Collabo was one of the best nights of Dance Currents so far.

The next street dance event during Dance Currents is Stylefest.

Collabo 2010 acts:

Avant Garde

Myself Dance Company

Question Dance

Alias

Stone Throwers

Animaineax

Kate Sicchio (visual media)

Wet Wipez

Trilogy

Spread Expression

Yaye Dib Afrodance

Uber Collabo appearances:

Animaineax, Avant Garde, Boy Blue Entertainment, Birdgang, C12 Dance Theatre, Definitives, Impact Dance, Plague, Peridot, Ruthless, TK Spin, Unity, Dance 2XS

We’re excited about... East London Dance Dance Currents Season

Review: East London Dance Local International

Review: East London Dance Two’s A Company 2010

Review: East London Dance Blueprint 2010

Review: Sadler’s Wells Sampled 2010

Review: Sadler’s Wells Sampled 2009

Blogs topics:

Move Like Michael Jackson; So You Think You Can Dance ; East London Dance