Previews: EIF Dance

Grupo Corpo: Onqotô and Parabelo

Grupo Corpo's first Fringe performance is sure to live up to the Brazilian dance troupe's reputation for energetic technical mastery. Drawing on influences from all over the world, but particularly from Brazilian traditional dance and culture, choreographer Rodrigo Pederneiras is renowned for his exuberant contemporary dance productions. While Onqotô is a playful exploration of the charming notion that the universe was created out of rivalry between Brazil's two main football teams, Parabelo will focus on traditional customs of giving thanks through contemporary media.

Água

In her particular brand of dance theatre Pina Bausch was quite unlike any other choreographer. Often stark, raw and volatile her dance productions also characteristically incorporate the playful and ridiculous - creating disturbing, unsettling, yet always beautiful works of art. Though the choreographer, sadly, died last year, her company continue her revolutionary work, bringing Água to the Playhouse this August. Like other shows in the festival, it also draws much influence from experiences of Brazil, with video installations of swaying palm trees and waterfalls created by long-term Tanztheater Wuppertal set designer Peter Pabst.

Dust and Light and Rasa

Alonzo King—recently named one of the 50 most outstanding artists in the United States—makes his U.K. debut this August. Expect to get lost in the vision of moonlight-bathed limbs moving in counterpoint to the spiritual baroque music of Poulenc and Corelli in Dust and Light. Following this, Rasa will provide a fascinating combination of western contemporary ballet and eastern tabla music, from Grammy award-winning Zakir Hussain, the New Worlds theme of this year's Festival again apparent. Speaking of both vulnerability and abandon, the success of King's productions is in their ability to mirror life. Interestingly, Alonzo is the cousin of former Labour MP and London Mayoral candidate, Oona King.