It’s sold out, had rave reviews across the country, and last night we managed to see what everyone is gaggling about. Birmingham Opera Company’s Othello is a stunning example of audience integration into a show which draws on the diversity of dance talent from the region.
Trombones brush up for Act 3. Photo: Pete Aston
The show runs until 19 December and we don’t want to spoil it for new audiences (join our debate about whether online content ruins or enhances viewing here) but since the production restored the Act 3 ballet bringing together a range of dancers in an enormous display we thought we’d review the dance section.
Kashmir Leese has already documented on his blog how he has worked alongside choreographers Ron Howells and Jen Irons on the production. The dance sequence appears after Othello has raped Desdemona, convinced of her infidelity with Casio by the appearance of the symbolic handkerchief, and the mood is one of impending terror (initiated from the start by the bomb-strapped actors moving with intent through the nervous crowd).
By this time the audience is used to the action taking place around them, but the dance spectacle is spread across the long wall of the Argyle warehouse allowing viewers to sit down and take in the movement. Seven Birmingham-based dance groups take part, dancing alongside each other in circular pockets, including dancers from Chakdeh Punjab Bhangra, Hamstead, Independent Dance, Matthew Bolton College, Smash Bro’z, Allstars and Green Man’s Morris.
The effect is magnificent. Never before have such a diverse collection of dance styles been performed alongside each other to give a mosiac picture of dance from groups across the region. Smash Bro’z stand out with their polished fusion of streetdance styles – set beautifully against Verdi’s ballet score. All dancers are wearing white boiler suits which strips the diverse dance styles down the the bare bones which adds to the overall effect. When you look down the hall, with all dance groups performing their set pop routines next to morris next to hip hop next to bhangra, it is a wonderful presentation of local talent in tunneled vision.
Jen Irons has already commented how bringing the groups together was no easy task – creating a few wrinkles at the first few rehearsals – but the vision and the music has delivered the end product. The sequence ends with all groups joining in a simple routine to bring the audience into the next segment of Othello’s public condemnation of Desdemona up on the balcony with the orchestra flanked by the chorus.
The entire show is one to fill you with pride for Birmingham’s vision and ability to bring talent from all areas together to produce an overwhelming night of novel entertainment. If you can wangle tickets in any way
