Dance: Body consciousness

Enowate
director-choreographer-performer Dickson Mbi
composer Roger Goula
lighting Lee Curran
costumes Daniel Lismore
animation Nick Hillel & Adam Smith
voices Patrice Naiambana, Michael Ajao, Sapphire Jo
Sadler's Wells, London • 14-125.Oct.22

Inspired by a journey to his ancestral home in Cameroon, Dickson Mbi explores his multiple identities in a show that begins with some comical miming before turning moody and menacing, with animalistic imagery and aggressive movement. It's an intriguing trip from London's East End to the dark heart of Africa, accompanied by a wide range of music and imagery. 

With a title that means "truth stands" it's clear that Mbi has big ambitions for this show, and there are some indulgent touches along the way. But it's also remarkably visceral, capturing the audience on an almost subliminal level. As it opens, Mbi is lying in stripes of light on a blank stage, struggling to get his body moving, seemingly attached to the floor. Eventually it's just one hand that's not responding, resulting in some witty interaction with the audience, accompanied by the sounds of kids at play.

Then there's a blackout and things change dramatically. Emerging from a pinpoint of light is that renegade hand, and then Mbi's upper torso, bent forward head down, creating a shape that looks otherworldly, like an alien being or mythical sea creature. As spotlights flicker on and off, he appears all around the stage, as if this is an invading army, before taking a central position for some full-bodied movement and a finale that makes spectacular use of music and projected animation.

Through all of this, there are echoes of iconic artistic imagery, and the musical styles also shift through genres to both set the scene and alter the tone. The production is skilfully assembled, but it's Mbi's astonishing physicality that makes the show hypnotic, mixing his experience as a hip-hop performer with strength-based contemporary dance. It's both aggressive and softly moving. And while the meaning remains elusive, the feelings are intense.

photos by Nick Thornton Jones, Warren DuPreez
and Foteini Christofilopoulou • 14.Oct.22