CriticalDance Forum

CHARLES LINEHAN COMPANY (UK)

WHAT: GRAND JUNCTION / DISINTEGRATION LOOPS (WORLD PREMIERE)

WHEN: MON 13 – TUE 14 OCT

WHERE: THE PLACE: ROBIN HOWARD

DANCE THEATRE

TICKETS: 020 7387 0031

Like the best mystery movies, his work has the power to linger in the mind, creating images
that can lurk in the imagination, coming to the surface when you least expect it’ Metro

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Charles Linehan Company
Monday 13/10/03
The Place – Robin Howard Dance Theatre
Grand Junction / Disintegration Loops

This year Charles Linehan’s contribution to Dance Umbrella consists of a double bill,
the intense duet ‘Grand Junction’commissioned by Dance Umbrella in 2002 and the
brand new ‘ Disintegration Loops’ co-commissioned by Dance Umbrella and Danspace
New York.

‘Grand Junction’ explores the shifting psychology and terrain of the relationship between
the two performers Andreja Rauch and Greig Cooke. In the beginning they just co-exist,
each of them keeping to their on part of the performance space, her movements being
more restraint and linear while his are wide and his arms take possession of the space
around him. It takes a while before Andreja even steals a glance at him. When they finally make contact they engage in a complex movement dialog with parts of their bodies touching on occasion. Their attempts at communication are not always successful
but the intensity of their relationship increases as the work progresses. Bathed in the
white lighting designed by Mikki Kunttu I found this piece so engaging that I was
genuinely surprised at its sudden end.

The evening’s second offering ‘Disintegration Loops’ has a different feel right from
the outset. Performed on a wooden floor and with softer yellowish warm lightning
it consists of a serious of solos, duos and trios. The four performers are never all on
stage at the same time. Charles Linehan has developed a typical movement language
with wide spirally arm movements and using the floor to great affect with half turns
and postures on the knees. I liked the central romantic but powerful duet between
Rahel Vonmoos and Ben Ash best. A soft white mist of light in the background
enhanced its tranquil, dreamy quality.

In a short post performance talk Charles Linehan confirmed that he was most interested
in exploring the relationship between music, light and movement. Considering the
successful results on display tonight I hope we will see a lot more of his work in the
future.

Review from The Guardian.

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