Sunday 11th February 2018
Many thanks to those of you who spoke to me, texted or emailed me after having seen ‘Swapping Shadows’ in January. Your thoughts and encouraging words are all gathered in the ‘spectators’ book’ I have been compiling, alongside the following official reviews:
Yanaëlle Thiran’s charming Swapping Shadows brought warmth and light to the evening. Solo pieces showcased Yanaëlle Thiran and Shivaangee Agrawal’s individual skills in contemporary and Bharatanatyam styles, but it was the duets which were eye- catching and heart-warming: a real dance sisterhood. Yes, Indian forms and contemporary dance are old companions, but the delicacy, respect and genuine curiosity for each other’s form and expression promised something fresh. The audio narrative didn’t engage, but I was gently swept away by the visuals: smooth shapes, loose tumbles and harmonious lines with effective, uncomplicated lighting. Eye-soothing synchronisation, syncopation, mirroring and the dancers’ personal connection made Swapping Shadows joyfully easy to watch.
– Stephanie Brown
Yanaelle Thiran performs in her own duet opposite Shivaangee Agrawal. Shadowing each other in movement, they begin at a distance before investigating the whole space. Approaching and retreating from a low level spotlight they split into their constituent roles for solos – Thiran’s languid, long-limbed shapeshifting versus Agrawal’s Bharatanatyam-inspired stamps and whirls – before regrouping. The accompanying texts in French and English are less distracting than the music tracks whose variety unseats an otherwise elegant, well-plotted work.
– Neil Norman
These reviews were published on The Place’s website on Wednesday 24th January 2018. Read more at: https://www.theplace.org.uk/blog/resolution-review-2018/tue-23-jan-lydia-touliatouyanaelle-thiranhinged-dance-co
P.S. If you are reading this and have any more thoughts on the piece, please drop me a line. Your feedback will surely inform or help shape my future choreographic projects!
Yanaëlle Thiran 