Mesmeric: In The Brain [Todd MacDonald]

SHECHTER II: IN THE BRAIN
4 stars

I first saw acclaimed choreographer Hofesh Shechter’s dance company perform as a Greek chorus in the Old Vic’s production of Oedipus, where their writhing, frenetic movement emphasised the ritualistic elements of Sophocles’ tragedy.

In the Brain is performed by Shechter’s young troupe of eight dancers, selected from more than 1,200 hopefuls across 49 countries, to form Shechter II.

Based on CAVE, an original piece choreographed by Shechter for the Martha Graham Dance Company, this has been developed into a 55-minute work.

It opens in complete darkness with a distant rumbling that gathers in intensity. There’s a primal quality to the first sequence, unfolding in dim light, the dancers’ arms raised in supplication or celebration – a customary pose for Shechter.

At first you can’t distinguish individuals from the group – they move as one, in pockets of light before they cross the stage. Gradually, they break formation, splitting into brief duets or solos.

Shechter’s music, supplemented by Âme (Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann), and Tom Visser’s lighting are crucial to the production. There are several blackouts during which the dancers reappear in new formations so that each section flows seamlessly into the next.

Osnat Kelner’s costumes underline the genderless quality of the performers; their socks suggest a casualness, that they are equally at home in a bedroom or a nightclub. Shechter’s pulsating beats gradually take over, prompting a frenzy of perfectly synchronised movement.

Their energy never lets up, and In the Brain is mesmerising to watch.
Shechter II will return, appearing in north London in early autumn. Don’t miss.

September 9-10
artsdepot.co.uk/event/shechter-ii-in-the-brain/