Rambert - Dance

EYE CANDY - Imre van Opstal and Marne van Opstal

CERBERUS - Ben Duke

FOLLOWING THE SUBTLE CURRENT UPSTREAM - Alonzo King

Eye Candy is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Rambert Commissioning Council.

Eye Candy shows the pains and the pleasures of inhabiting the human body. Since David and Venus, we’ve put the human body on the highest pedestal, shaping and perpetuating an unattainable beauty standard.

In Greek mythology Cerberus is the guard dog at the gates of the underworld, preventing the dead from leaving. Ben Duke’s new piece is set on-stage during a contemporary dance performance. A meta dance-comedy and a musing on mortality, complete with funeral couture and live on-stage music from percussionist Romarna Campbell, soprano Rebecca Leggett and classical guitarist George Robinson.

In Alonzo King’s own words, “everything that exists in nature is seeking to return to its source. The child runs to its parents, and the river seeks the ocean. Salmon return from the sea to reach their original spawning grounds.” Human beings have one thing in common – we want to avoid pain and suffering and we want a happiness that is ever fulfilling and never goes stale. Joy is the goal. Following the Subtle Current Upstream is about how to return to joy.

Eye Candy contains some strong language, and may not be suitable for children under 12. The piece confronts questions around body image and the dancers perform dressed in silicon “nude” suits (minus visible genitalia), giving the impression of nudity while being fully covered

Cerberus contains themes and mild depictions of death.