London’s dance scene has been set ablaze by two extraordinary premieres this week, as the works of acclaimed choreographers Wayne McGregor and Akram Khan captivated audiences with their profound storytelling and innovative techniques. Both productions, McGregor’s MaddAddam and Khan’s Gigenis: The Generation of the Earth, drew upon mythic tales to explore contemporary themes, leaving viewers spellbound and eager for more.
MaddAddam: A Dystopian Vision
Wayne McGregor’s MaddAddam, based on the eponymous trilogy by Margaret Atwood, transported audiences to a hauntingly familiar dystopian world. The production, which premiered at the Royal Opera House, grappled with the challenges of climate breakdown, corporate greed, violence, and misogyny. McGregor’s signature style, known for its fluidity and hyperextended lines, proved the perfect vehicle for conveying the work’s unsettling themes.
Set to a lyrically inflected score by Max Richter, MaddAddam showcased the Royal Ballet’s exceptional dancers as they embodied the story’s central characters: Oryx, Crake, and Jimmy. The trio’s performances, marked by suppressed emotion and constant questioning, anchored the work’s narrative arc. McGregor’s choreography seamlessly shifted focus from individuals to groups, stretching his vocabulary to depict the various factions inhabiting Atwood’s world.
One of MaddAddam’s underlying refrains is an examination of the way stories are told.
– Sarah Crompton, The Observer
The production’s visual elements, including Ravi Deepres’s cleverly incorporated films, We Not I’s minimal yet flexible sets, and Lucy Carter’s atmosphere-molding lighting, created a world that was at once ethereal and unsettlingly real. Gareth Pugh’s fizzingly inventive costumes added unexpected flashes of color and shine, further enhancing the work’s otherworldly aesthetic.
Gigenis: A Return to Roots
In a striking coincidence, Akram Khan’s Gigenis: The Generation of the Earth also explored the power of storytelling, albeit through an entirely different lens. Khan, known for his fusion of kathak and contemporary dance techniques, returned to his roots for this production, giving Indian classical dance a new platform at Sadler’s Wells.
Loosely inspired by the Mahabharata, Gigenis centered on the figure of a mother, portrayed by the astonishing Kapila Venu, as she looked back on the various stages of her life marked by the death of her husband and one of her two sons in war. The work’s themes of darkness, fear, and grief were brought to life through the precision and rigour of the dancers’ movements, each steeped in the ancient traditions they represented.
It’s like being given a prism through which to appreciate the dance.
– Sarah Crompton, The Observer
Khan assembled an exceptional company of dancers, including Vijna Vasudevan, Renjith Babu, Mavin Khoo, Mythili Prakash, and Sirikalyani Adkoli, each bringing their own mastery of Indian classical dance forms to the stage. The result was a work of overwhelming emotional power, driven forward by the onstage musicians and vocalists’ performances, orchestrated by Jyotsna Prakash.
A Bright Future for Dance
The success of MaddAddam and Gigenis points to an exciting future for dance in London and beyond. As choreographers continue to draw inspiration from mythic tales and classical traditions, they are forging new paths for the art form, engaging audiences in profound explorations of the human experience.
Both McGregor and Khan have demonstrated their ability to shape epic material into compelling dance works, each in their own unique way. McGregor’s hyperkinetic style and Khan’s grounding in Indian classical dance may seem worlds apart, but both choreographers share a commitment to pushing the boundaries of their art, to telling stories that resonate with contemporary audiences.
As London’s dance scene continues to thrive, with venues like the Royal Opera House and Sadler’s Wells playing host to groundbreaking productions, it is clear that the future of dance is in good hands. With visionary choreographers like Wayne McGregor and Akram Khan at the helm, audiences can expect to be challenged, moved, and inspired for years to come.
