Paul (the performer) is based in London, where he is variously employed as an osteopath, a baker of unusual cakes, and a creator of comedy such as in the video below. The cinematographer is Steve Kirkham. This is interpretive dance with a difference!
Let’s Hear it for the Boys!
Boylexe, Shadow Lounge, 26 September 2012
Having thoroughly enjoyed Burlexe earlier this year, I was delighted to be invited to the first performance of Howard Wilmot’s latest creation, Boylexe, and see how the boys measured up (so to speak) against the girls.
A 1980s soundtrack is always guaranteed to put a smile on my face, and the resident DJ played us in with some favourites from that decade whilst some of the performers threw shapes to the music (Devoh Bobbie impressed me from the start with his infectious enthusiasm), and when Kele le Roc opened the show with ELO’s hit, Xanadu, I knew I was onto a winner. Phil Dzwonkiewicz gave us a teasing taste of what was to come, followed by Randolph Hott, whose suit and tie were soon removed in the first dance of the evening. We then heard the story of Babette, a boy who ran away to the circus, before Devoh Bobbie took to the stage to the tune of Madonna’s Vogue. Bobbie’s dancing and acting are both excellent, and his shy-but-cheeky boy act was very well received.
There were many wonderful moments in this show: Mr Mistress’ reverse strip was hilarious, as was Nine Bob Rob’s Playstation, and Phil Dzwonkiewicz made a marvellous transformation from suave to geek. The monologues tended to be on the humourous side without the edginess that was evident in Burlexe, keeping the mood of the show on a constant upbeat level. Kele Le Roc was a fantastic hostess, and also showed her acting talent as a drag queen who was, in her own words, “only one nose job away from Janet Jackson.” Performances from Phil Bedwell, Rob Pryor and Patric Deony also added to the evening’s enjoyment.
So Burlexe or Boylexe? The boys were funnier, but the girls were sexier. I’d personally like to see a combined boys and girls show. Who knows – they may even now be working on it.
Picture by Magnus Arrevad. For more information about Boylexe, visit www.boylexe.co.uk.
Mary Tynan
Rosemary Lee’s Square Dances – Gordon Square (part of Dance Umbrella www.danceumbrella.co.uk)
12 performances of Square Dances were held in each of Woburn, Gordon, Queen and Brunswick Squares over the weekend of 8/9 October 2011. I attended the 12pm show in Gordon Square.
Knowing that I was to attend a performance where all the dancers would be carrying handbells, I imagined them as some sort of rhythmic punctuation to an energetic country-style dance, perhaps vaguely Morris or maypole like. The name, Square Dances, also reinforced this impression. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The bells were not used to mark time, they were the music – a specially written score by Terry Mann – and created a haunting, ethereal sound which was even slightly disturbing at times.
The choreography appeared to be more ballet than folk inspired. Entering suddenly but softly into one end of the square, the more than 100 dancers conjured up a feeling of nature coming to life, as if the spirit of the place had appeared to share its joys and sorrows with the audience. The execution was flawless, movements flowing together as the performers spread out throughout the garden, or come together in one large group under a tree. After 15 minutes of delight, the dancers gracefully slipped out through the opposite end from which they had entered, the sound of the bells gently fading away as they moved further down the street.
Mary Tynan