Created for
Richard Alston Dance Company
 

Music
Jo Kondo - Isthmus (1985)

 

Lighting

Zeynep Kepekli

 

Costumes

Peter Todd

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Duration

6 minutes

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Originally danced by a cast of

5 dancers

 

Video Excerpt

Filmed, edited and produced by The Place.

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Isthmus is a complex and speedy dance sitting lightly on the intricate web of Jo Kondo’s music. The dancers dart here and there, inspired by the featherweight texture of Kondo's superb gamelan-like score. It's one of a progression of dances (going back to the 1977 Rainbow Bandit) in which I investigated how purposeful chaos in differing paths of movement can be reined in and pulled into focus by moments of order and unison - the balance is crucial if it is to work. I think Isthmus is my most successful effort at that. It has a throwaway feel to it but is absolutely meticulous in its choreography.​

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Isthmus was made for Bob’s Bash, A Birthday Celebration for Bob Lockyer. I thank Bob for commissioning the dance, and for all the other great things he has done over the years for the good of music and dance.

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First performed at the Robin Howard Dance Theatre, The Place for Bob’s Bash, A Birthday Celebration for Bob Lockyer 13 April 2012.