Sadler’s Wells, London
Fire ripples through dancers’ bodies in Juanjo Argues’ vital new work, while David Bintley rekindles his Sun King spectacle
This double bill from Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) is totally lacking in fury but you can’t deny there’s fire. In David Bintley’s The King Dances (first performed in 2015), flaming torches evoke the 17th-century court of Louis XIV, where the young king performed at the centre of lavish spectacles.
This Louis (Max Maslen) seems more of a dreamer than the arrogant ego you might expect. The steps are based on the ramrod-straight poise and quick, precise footwork of ballet’s baroque roots. It needs to be rhythmically watertight, but composer Stephen Montague’s irregular accents thwart both dancers and orchestra at times. A pared-back palette can force great creativity, but here that comes in the shape of Halloween monsters under the bed rather than choreographic ingenuity. The finale, however, is utterly masterful: the simple power of bodies in unison, the timpani beating a stately pavane and a Sun King costume fit for David Bowie. Suddenly, he rules.
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