Mini review: Flight Pattern

Company: The Royal Ballet
Venue: Royal Opera House
Coreography: Crystal Pite
Music: Henryk Mikołaj Górecki
Date: 18 May 2019

CHOREOGRAPHY   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Moves which would have appeared to be simple/easy in one dancer became remarkably complex in a large group of performers. Extremely effective for the theme, it made the production very easy to watch in spite of the sad topic.

PERFORMANCE   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Very powerful from every single dancer. Their togetherness successfully brought across a series of feelings associated with the migrant crisis (both from an internal and an external point of view). Soloists: 🔟 I especially enjoyed watching Marcelino Sambé, very expressive and owning the stage as usual.

STAGING   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Deceptively simple. It consisted of mobile walls/panels situated at an angle, which moved back and forth creating different spaces and letting light come in from different directions. A generally dark stage playing with light.

COSTUMES   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An informal set of clothes in shades of grey. Simple, but integrated very well within the production. They had their own specific role in the performance.

MUSIC   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One would have expected a sadder tune, but this melancholic but slightly hopeful composition worked surprisingly well. The singing was fantastic, but it somehow blended into the background and was forgotten in favour of the dancing.

IN A NUTSHELL

Would I recommend? 👍👍

Incredible dancing and very impressive choreography. I will definitely watch it again if I ever get the chance.