5 Stars
exhilaratingly beautiful and simmering with danger
British Theatre Guide
4 Stars
a fluidity of movement that holds you in its grasp
The Scotsman
4 Stars
sucks the breath right out of you… continuously inventive choreography.
Three weeks
Pick of the Week
Dale’s edgy new work takes the temperature of Britain.
Guardian
a compelling spectacle…. This talented company is one to watch
Fest
White Christmas: ‘Duet (1:40)’, ‘Ionize’, ‘I Infinite’, ‘TOPOS’, ‘Nebula’,‘RoughEights’
December 2005
London, The Place
The robotic theme hinted at in ‘Ionize’ was exemplified in Tom Dale’s solo, ‘I Infinite’, which was in my opinion the highlight of the evening. Set to quiet, computerized, hypnotic music, Dale reflected his surroundings, dressed in white with his skin covered in white powder. The choreography combined automaton-esque, dynamic and amazingly fluid movements with moments of complete stillness, while Dale blended in with his surroundings, almost rejecting his humanity and allowing himself to become surreally robotic. He was highly controlled, and was suggestive of embodying a particle, or node inside a computer, emotionless and precise.
Louise Bennett
17 June 2008 | 12:10
Rise; New Wolsey Theatre; Pulse Festival; June 6
Described in the Pulse programme as uncompromising, edgy and exhilarating, Rise – by Laban graduate Tom Dale – was all those things and more. Inspired by the claustrophobic, cabin fevered nature of society where human behaviour is shaped and moulded by institutions, this inventive, mesmerising piece of contemporary dance was a joy to behold. Five young dancers, three male and two female, all had their roles to play both singly and collectively. Their athleticism was extraordinary, as was the preciseness of the unique and unusual movements, all designed to convey the theme of feeling ‘boxed in’ (especially the man who began the piece – at times I wondered, was he a human or a robot?).
The set was simple: two scaffolding structures made into cubes (through and around which the dancers twisted, turned and leapt), a lampshade hung high from the ceiling, and the rest created with directional lighting. The theme was made clear right from the word go, with the opening scene seeing three dancers sat in meditative poses, staring into white squares of light projected onto the floor in front of them – starring into the enclosed nature of their realities, perhaps.
Costumes were kept simple: urban jungle-style tracksuit pants and hooded tops, with tight T-shirts underneath, continuing the urban theme.
The music – by Jow_FishY was a montage of electronica and breakbeat, with an unexpected section of uplifting reggae thrown in close to the end – during which the dancers performed almost capoeira-type moves – which really added life to the piece and contrasted well with the other, more gritty sections.
Not a moment passed without another inventive series of movements, or ways the dancers interacted with one another.
Robotic, hypnotic, electronic – I was totally transfixed by this masterpiece of modern dance. Tom Dale is certainly a name to watch for the future, and, in my opinion, already up there with the likes of more well known companies in terms of professionalism and inventiveness. Rise was certainly an apt name, as this rising star choreographer and his talented company are set to go far.
Katy Evans