They Live Next Door & Encore; Ieva Kuniskis & Remarkable Dance Company at The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury 29th July 2017 – Maggie Watson reviews

Choreographer Ieva Kuniskis’ work is exciting, moving and entertaining. First up last night, Encore was the debut performance by the Remarkable Dance Company. The dance opened with the entire cast in a closely gathered group, right arms raised, before they collectively followed a sequence of gestural movements. To music ranging from Eric Satie’s Je te veux and Csokolom’s Lulu Valse to Lou Reed’s Goodnight Ladies, they took us through a series of scenes that affirmed the dancers’ wit, experience and individuality. This was an outstandingly successful engagement between a choreographer and a group of older dancers, who are for the most part without vocational training. Some barefoot, others in shoes, they clearly wore what felt right (and what they could see in; at least two wore their spectacles). 

 

They Live Next Door by Ieva Kuniskis with Remarkable Dance Company, The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury 29th July 2017

A fascinating programme of new dance works coming up shortly at the Mill Arts Centre in Banbury.  They Live Next Door is a touching, tender and gritty show that knits unique stories with intricate choreography and nostalgic live melodies.  Set in a home, on a street not too far from your own, it explores the light and the dark of familiar relationships. The duet is an emotional rollercoaster that sensitively uncovers the complexities of preconceptions around masculinity.  At times conforming and other times shaking off stereotypes, multiple relationships between the two men unravel, weaving memories,expectations and domestic rituals. They Live Next Door sets out to ask how social stereotypes affect our identity and our relationships with each other.

Ieva Kuniskis is a Lithuanian choreographer based in London. She combines dance and theatre creating unique movement language and distinct authentic characters to share stories about the everyday life. Ieva interweaves universally relevant themes with affecting, personal stories that audiences can relate to, inviting them to follow their own emotional journey in parallel to that of the characters.

ENCORE, the evening’s curtain raiser, celebrates the debut performance for the Remarkable Dance Company, created for over 50 year olds.  Supported by the Arts Council England, The Mill has brought choreographer Ieva Kuniskis together with 16 people, the eldest of whom is in her 8os, to create a new work which will inspire and entertain you.

Performance:  Saturday 29th July, 7.30pm

Venue:  The Mill Arts Centre, Spiceball Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 5QE

Tickets:  £12

Book online here, or call the Box Office on 01295 279002