The Composer series at Sadler's Wells presented a captivating night of dance set to the intricate works of American composer Nico Muhly. Three distinct choreographers – Jules Cunningham, Maud Le Pladec, and Michael Keegan-Dolan – tackled his music, each bringing their unique approach to the table.
Cunningham's Slant, set to Muhly's Drones, created a sense of tension and suspense with its stark movement and flat planes. The six-strong cast, including Ellen van Schuylenburch, wove together to create a mysterious, liminal atmosphere that was both captivating and unresolved.
In contrast, Le Pladec's Veins of Water reveled in the shimmering textures of Muhly's score, conjuring an eerie glamour with its gelatinous dancers, sequined costumes, and fluid movements. This beguiling piece seemed to blur the lines between music and dance, drawing the audience in with an otherworldly allure.
However, Michael Keegan-Dolan upended expectations with his show, which transmogrified Muhly's The Only Tune for Sam Amidon into a vibrant, folk-infused spectacle. By embracing the raw emotion of Sam Amidon's performance, Keegan-Dolan transformed the work into an immersive, theatrical experience that was both captivating and deeply affecting.
Ultimately, this night at Sadler's Wells demonstrated the versatility and depth of Nico Muhly's compositions, as well as the creative genius of its three choreographers. With its varied textures, mesmerizing performances, and sheer emotional impact, it is a testament to the enduring power of music and dance to inspire and move us.
Cunningham's Slant, set to Muhly's Drones, created a sense of tension and suspense with its stark movement and flat planes. The six-strong cast, including Ellen van Schuylenburch, wove together to create a mysterious, liminal atmosphere that was both captivating and unresolved.
In contrast, Le Pladec's Veins of Water reveled in the shimmering textures of Muhly's score, conjuring an eerie glamour with its gelatinous dancers, sequined costumes, and fluid movements. This beguiling piece seemed to blur the lines between music and dance, drawing the audience in with an otherworldly allure.
However, Michael Keegan-Dolan upended expectations with his show, which transmogrified Muhly's The Only Tune for Sam Amidon into a vibrant, folk-infused spectacle. By embracing the raw emotion of Sam Amidon's performance, Keegan-Dolan transformed the work into an immersive, theatrical experience that was both captivating and deeply affecting.
Ultimately, this night at Sadler's Wells demonstrated the versatility and depth of Nico Muhly's compositions, as well as the creative genius of its three choreographers. With its varied textures, mesmerizing performances, and sheer emotional impact, it is a testament to the enduring power of music and dance to inspire and move us.
! nico muhl's scores are just so intricate and emotive, i loved how each choreographer brought their own vibe to his music. but idk, ellie van schuylenburch did seem a bit lost in that first piece... like, i get what jules was going for, but it didn't quite land for me 
. le pladec's show tho? wow. the way she used light and movement to create this eerie glow was just stunning 
. and keegan-dolan's adaptation of amidon's performance was just pure magic 
. overall though, i think muhl's music is the real hero here – it's like he's tapping into something deeper and more meaningful 
and maud le pladec's veins of water was like a mesmerizing dream 
. but michael keegan-dolan's show was like nothing i've ever seen before! how did they manage to take that raw emotion from sam amidon's performance and turn it into this vibrant, folk-infused spectacle? 
the way those choreographers took his music and ran with it was just magic 
Cunningham's Slant gave me ALL the tension, you know? like I was literally on edge the whole time 
but Le Pladec's Veins of Water... wow, that eerie glamour was EVERYTHING 
and can we talk about Michael Keegan-Dolan's show? I was not expecting that folk-infused vibe at all, but it totally worked 
what struck me most was how each piece felt so unique, yet still connected to the music itself 
it's like they're speaking a secret language or something 
the Composer series was literally LIFE.CHANGING I'm still reeling from the emotions 
first of all Nico Muhly's scores are EVERYTHING I mean, have you heard his music? it's like a symphony of feelings and I love how each choreographer brought their own unique energy to the table 
amazing! i loved how each choreographer brought their own vibe 
but in a good way? 
- it totally upended my expectations! 
.
. Each one brought their own vibe to the table - Cunningham's dark & moody, Le Pladec's dreamy & ethereal, Keegan-Dolan's raw & emotive 
.
.
. It was like he took that raw emotion and poured it onto the stage 
.
I'm still buzzing from that amazing Composer series at Sadler's Wells! Nico Muhly's scores are truly magical - they add this extra layer of depth to the performances. Each choreographer brought their own unique energy to the table, but what struck me most was how Muhly's music can evoke such different emotions and moods. From the eerie glamour of Le Pladec's Veins of Water to the raw emotion of Keegan-Dolan's show... it's like the music is a chameleon, adapting to the performers and creating something entirely new. And the cast - wow, they're talented! Ellen van Schuylenburch was a standout in Cunningham's Slant, her movements were so precise and haunting. Overall, I'm blown away by how well this series came together 
le pladec's veins of water was like a dream come true - the sequins, the costumes, the movement all came together to create this otherworldly experience 
it really worked though, and it showed me that music can be so much more than just a soundtrack...
. The way he wove Sam Amidon's performance into the narrative was pure genius 
). but what really stood out to me was michael keegan-dolan's show... he totally turned that sam amidon piece into something entirely new & amazing 
.
. Can't we just comment without all the extra hoops? It's like they want to keep us on their platform forever! 
Anyway, I did love that Nico Muhly composer series at Sadler's Wells, though - the music was so evocative and really brought out the emotions in those dance pieces 
. But, can we please get a more intuitive search function or something? I had to scroll through ages just to find the reviews from 2023 
Michael Keegan-Dolan's show was also insane!!! he took this one piece & turned it into this folk-inspired spectacle that had me feeling all the feels 
, while Maud Le Pladec's Veins of Water was all about that eerie glamour 
. It's amazing how music and dance can come together like that - it gives me chills every time! 
... I mean, who needs that many different choreographers? Can't we just have one person create something cohesive for once? 
! And that one guy, Keegan-Dolan, he's got some serious skills. I love how he took that song and turned it into something entirely different. It was like magic 
the way he turned Sam Amidon's performance into this folk-infused spectacle was pure genius! and can we talk about the costumes in le pladec's veils of water? i'm still dying over those sequined getups 
. I mean, this whole event just showed us that music and dance can be so much more than just entertainment - it's like an emotional experience that stays with you forever 
.
and can we talk about the costumes & set design - total perfection