I had the privilege of attending We Are The World, a contemporary dance theatre show. Choreographed by Imogen Reeve and Co, the three act performance blends themes of science fiction, pop culture with hyper feminine portrayals of robotic gynoids. In its pamphlet, the play describes itself as exploring “what it means to be human- or nearly human” – and I really feel that this was conveyed and demonstrated.
Act one, called Post Truth Whatever, was my favourite act of the whole contemporary dance. The lighting filling the room with blues, pinks and whites whilst the dancing below was well-timed and synchronised. It really set a tone between eerily perfection and post modern alienation. It felt very post-punkish and cybernetic and yet I loved how the dances also incorporated subtle feminine flare through weaponised hair flips, sensual footwork and suggestive dance moves. Its focus on domestic political issues such as Post Thatcherism also made for an engaging event that left me decoding every artistic choice.
The other two acts, Discopia and We Are The World, were just as interesting. Discopia dealt with space exploration and also carried that same feminine presence. The introduction of cheerleaders and hyper glammed vixens were a welcomed sight to see. In some instances the tone was very chaotic, sometimes lively and warm, other times eerie and monotonous. It was definitely interesting to watch the dancers and how they communicated this shift in tone throughout the play.
We Are The World was a nice finish. It showcased a post-human future ruled or inhabited by the feminine. It was amazing to see ideas of feminine cyborgs and it reminded me of Ursula Le Guincsn books that particularly focus on post humanism and exploration. Overall the event was a deeply introspective and reflective choreodrama.
9/10
