'TAKE FIVE BLUES' | ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET
Choreographer | Stina Quagebeur
Director | Shaun James Grant
Cinematography | Lorenzo Levrini
Production Design | Emma Winter
Dancers
Aitor Arrieta
Matthew Astley
Fernando Coloma
Henry Dowden
Shiori Kase
Katja Khaniukova
Rentaro Nakaaki
Angela Wood
A jazz-inspired joy of dance.
ENB Associate Choreographer Stina Quagebeur’s Take Five Blues was inspired by Nigel Kennedy’s take on Bach’s Vivace and Desmond’s Take Five, and the way in which contemporary jazz and classical music are uniquely married together.
Film director Shaun James Grant creates a jazz-influenced dream-like atmosphere, where the eight dancers are in their own world, free to feed off each other’s energy and play with the unexpected melodies and rhythms in this high-spirited number that pushes past classical ballet’s rules and boundaries into new territories.
“An enjoyable blitz of whizzing pirouettes and relaxed phrases”
The Times
“With warmth and fun, the dancers bounce off violinist Nigel Kennedy’s unconventional recordings of Take Five and Bach’s double concerto.”
The Guardian
“The driving score provokes spiky, assertive dance. Quagebeur keeps it loose, with plenty of bite. It’s a cheering blast of Friday night vibes.”
The Sunday Times
“A lively ensemble piece… filmed in a way that immerses the viewer both visually and sonically.”
The Stage
“Quagebeur’s blue-clad dancers injected freshness, humour and jazzy twists into her classical steps.”
Culture Whisper
Produced by OB Management Producers | Benedict Turnbull & Chanel Parkinson
