RHYTHM OF HUMAN at The Coronet Theatre

★★★★★

“Ambiguous proceeds to win us over with the sheer grace and athleticism of their five dancers”

The Ambiguous Dance Company return to the Coronet Theatre in Notting Hill this week with a new piece that once again demonstrates their easy facility for high powered interpretations of genre defying dance in Rhythm of Human. In fifty minutes, audiences are treated to a very Korean take on the existential crises that beset the modern man, but if that sounds too serious, have no fear. Rhythm of Human is also funny, in a self-mocking, absurdly self-conscious kind of way.

The Ambiguous Dance Company has been part of the dance scene since 2008, when former back up dancer Boram Kim began to wonder if there was a difference way to communicate the language of dance to his audiences. Together, he and fellow dancer Kyeongmin Jang founded Ambiguous, and their unique take on western dance stylesbegan to catch people’s imaginations. They are not only well known to dance fans in Korea, they’ve since captured international attention with their shows and their videos for Gucci, Coldplay, and K pop group Leenalchi. They’ve amply proved they’re hip with hip hop, and they have serious classical moves as well. Add to that a lot of gymnastic jumps, rolls and somersaults as part of the company’s choreography, and we could be watching some new variation on break dancing.

Described as a show about “a modern Korean man who fights to break free from societal expectations and norms”, Rhythm of Human begins with utter silence, and stillness, on a bare stage. A single dancer enters, clad only in tight fitting swim trunks and dayglo glittery sunglasses, and takes up a typical beach pose. He holds it. And holds it. And holds it. I’m all for ambiguity and self-parody, but there’s something a bit overstated, and alienating, about forcing the audience’s gaze for such a long period of time. If that’s the point our alienated Korean man is making, it isn’t subtle, or ambiguous. Fortunately, once Rhythm of Human gets going, it’s easy to forgive such a stunt, as Ambiguous proceeds to win us over with the sheer grace and athleticism of their five dancers, Hak Lee, Kyeongmin Jang, Kyum Ahn, Sihan Park and Sungtae Jung.

The dance sequences are accompanied by music that can veer unexpectedly between Buena Vista Social Club, Mozart, Daft Punk and Conal Fowkes singing Cole Porter, for example. The dancers display an ever changing variation of moves that are just as unexpected. The discontinuities of music and movement are what defines the Ambiguous Dance Company’s signature style, and it’s a pleasure to settle into it. Most often choreographed in a sequence of one solo dancer accompanied by a chorus of four, the five men switch from beach boys in their trunks and sparkly sunglasses to serious anonymous suits marching in squares. If this is the reality for Korean men, it’s easy to see why they would ditch the suits for beach freedom at every opportunity. But once again, Rhythm of Human doesn’t take itself so seriously, even while making thoughtful points about the repressive forces still at work in modern Korea. The show is a fun fifty minutes, paced well, and just enough of a taste of Ambiguous’ choreographic style to make one wish the show was longer.

Ambiguous Dance Company’s Rhythm of Human is charming and just a little bit wicked. The Coronet Theatre does its usual wonderful job of welcoming audiences into the beautifully designed interiors of this classic theatre. The whole evening is sure to enchant any besuited escapee away from the daily grind, and send everyone scrambling for their bathing costumes and glittery sunglasses.