The dance show that is ‘Mere Mortals’ cannot be described as a ballet, but rather a piece of modern dance.
With a company having the name San Francisco Ballet one would have expected to see some pointe shoes. For a piece commissioned by world-renowned Tamara Rojo one would have expected some spectacular dancing. This piece was my most anticipated performance before the EIF commenced, but I was sorely disappointed by the choreography, the costumes, and the lighting.
Much of the show seemed to consist of mere walking rather than dancing. The conceit of the piece was exploring the myth of Pandora opening the ill-fated ‘box’, and so it was surprising that she didn’t appear until a few scenes in.
I must have missed the seminal event of the opening.
The construction of the work seemed quite derivative and repetitive. Why so much use of hands in the ‘dance’? Why is there so much emphasis on sex in both the movements and costumes?
And I really do not appreciate being blinded by sudden light shining in my eyes as I would expect a tyrannical policeman interrogating me for some imagined crime. The huge screens were often a distraction rather than providing a context of chaos – which I presume was their intention.
The score was obviously a difficult piece to perform so great praise must go to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for its execution, a redeeming quality of a show which failed to move me as I expect great art to do.
