Edinburgh Playhouse
This double bill has sun and shade, and if at times the momentum gets stuck there’s still a mighty spring in its step
There are slimmer pickings than usual for dance in the Edinburgh international festival programme this year. With violinist Nicola Benedetti at the helm, it’s understandable her interests skew towards music, and this first, very enjoyable, dance show comes from a company who are intensely musical, Brazil’s Grupo Corpo.
The double bill by resident choreographer Rodrigo Pederneiras, whose brother Paulo founded the group in 1975, draws on African, Brazilian, ballet and contemporary influences. The first piece honours Gilberto Gil, created to celebrate the 80th birthday of the Brazilian musician and former minister of culture. Gil himself has created the soundtrack by re-conceptualising some of his own songs, fracturing their melodies – the title is Gil Refazendo, Gil Remaking. The dance is also remade from an earlier version, although less fractured, less obviously experimental. Sunny, and a bit samey.
At Edinburgh Playhouse until 7 August
