Dance: All the drama

Germán Cornejo’s
Tango After Dark
director-choreographer Germán Cornejo
dancers Germán Cornejo & Noelia Pizzo; Nicolás Schell & Nair Schinca; Esteban Simon & Marilu Leopardi; Guido Palacios & Florencia Zarate; Juan Cupini & Erica Rossi
singers Vanina Tagini, Jesus Hidalgo
musicians Diego Ramos, Matias Rubino, Gemma Scalia, Tomas Falasca, Jeronimo Izarrualde
music Astor Piazzolla
lighting Charlie Morgan Jones • sound Gaston Briski
costumes Germán Cornejo, Alberto Mauri, Mimi Pinzon
Sadler's Wells, London • 5-9.Nov.26 ★★★

Back in London after a sold-out run in 2018, Germán Cornejo's dance company takes the audience on an immersive journey into Argentina's tango subculture, rippling with kicks, flicks, hooks and outrageous lifts. This is a slick, expertly performed show that demonstrates a wide range of tango styles, accompanied by gifted on-stage musicians. As enjoyable as it is, there's a nagging sense that it could be even more adventurous, especially in the choreography and costumes, both of which feel a bit repetitive. That said, the explosive emotionality is riveting.

The dancers appear as five couples, sometimes swapping partners or performing as trios or quartets. Although despite tango's well-known history, there are no male-only pairings. But this is an astonishingly exacting display of skill from first-rate performers who time every move to perfection. Boleos and ganchos continually punch the musical beats, as feet whip around each other in ways that feel wonderfully dangerous. The enganches are even more impressive, as women wrap their legs around their partner's bodies with thrilling precision.

While there isn't an overriding narrative to the show, several dance pieces contain emotive mini-storylines. And everything is punched with high drama, from the whizzy choreography to the riveting presence of evocative singers Vanina Tagini and Jesus Hidalgo. Even when the dancers are floating smoothly across the stage, there is propulsive energy in their attitude. And the four-piece band traces the mood with music that ranges from staccato attack to soulful jazz to rhythmic bounce. Along with a couple of musical interludes, each of them also gets to play a show-stopping solo.

Dancers also get their moments in the spotlight, with twirls and poses that continually catch the eye, led by Cornejo himself, plus the notably expressive Nair Schinca. The complex lifts are often heart-stopping, augmenting the flashy footwork as stiletto heels seem to whisk perilously close to the other dancers, creating dazzling optical illusions. So it doesn't really matter that the striking costumes are mainly one-note: shimmery dresses for women, black and/or white suits for men. These are perfect for the larger ballroom sequences, which surge with intentionality, leading to a triumphant encore that sends us off with a snap in our step.

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photos by Danny Kaan • 8.Nov.26