Ballet Lorent

On Tuesday we went to go see ‘La nuit intime’ by Ballet Lorent and I was amazed by the entire show. We were sat on the same level as the dancer as all the tiered seating was pushed back and replaced by casual tables and chairs dotted about in-between and around raised platforms that the dancers performed on throughout the piece. There was a bar serving drinks in the corner and as well as being able to see the dancers any one person was also able to see the rest of the audience, that really gave a felling of being in and a part of the spectacle. A real ‘club’ atmosphere took over automatically when entering the space and at times I found myself forgetting where I was.

Personally I thought all of the dancers were extraordinary but I found my self really drawn into and remembering the sections where they use extension and balances. Especially the female dancers really gave the impression of their limbs being longer than they were and used the strength and stability to create this illusion. The really striking theme of this entire performance was the use of intimacy between the performers, the use of subtle looks, slowly undressing each other, hugging, laughing with and smiling at each other was so captivating. To an audience so used to watching performers on a proscenium arch style set up; (where as an audience member you are made to feel like you should sit making no noise watching as if in your own bubble) La nuit intime pushed the boundries and included the audience in these intense intimate moments and made the audience as a whole feel safe to engage each other and feel more connected to the performers and the piece.

One of my favourite parts of the entire 2 and a half hour performance was the relatively simple section where the female dancers were balancing on their bums holding their legs extending in front of them, and a close angle. As they balance they fall and are caught again by one of the male dancers, and this is going on simultaneously at different points in the room. I couldn’t help myself being envious and their strength and power as when I tried to explain this section to my peers the next morning, I found it extremely difficult! The piece overall really did make me think about my strength and control in technique classes and really motivated me to become stronger and able to hold balances and lifting my legs for longer.

http://www.balletlorent.com/index.php?lanuit