Sarah Mattews enjoys a modern ballet double bill at the Theatre Royal Bath
I’ll admit, I sometimes feel a little nervous about contemporary dance. It can occasionally feel a bit too interpretive for its own good, and I’m left wondering whether I’m missing something. But when a friend who’d seen Rambert before told me how much she’d enjoyed them, I was intrigued — and after seeing Kismet at the Theatre Royal Bath, I can see why she recommended it, even if, as she later admitted, it wasn’t quite what she expected!
Kismet is a double bill from Rambert, exploring the unpredictable, deeply human experiences that make up our everyday lives. Across two very different pieces — Gallery of Consequence and B.R.I.S.A. — the company’s dancers take us on a journey through chaos, connection and transformation, with performances that are both physically stunning and emotionally charged.
The first piece, Gallery of Consequence, is set in an airport — that curious crossroads of modern life where emotions, stories and lives collide. The choreography captures that sense of bustle and constant movement beautifully: people arriving and leaving, meeting and parting, crossing paths and brushing past each other. There’s joy and frustration, calm and eruption, sometimes all within a few seconds. At times it does veer into the strange — one dancer convulsing on the floor, voices emerging from the soundscape — but it all adds to the sense of life’s unpredictability. It’s exuberant, expressive and surprisingly easy to follow once you let go and just watch the flow.
The second piece, B.R.I.S.A. — inspired by the Spanish word for ‘breeze’ — offers a very different mood. Where Gallery of Consequence feels busy and grounded, B.R.I.S.A. is lighter, looser and full of air. It begins gently, with soft movement and quiet fluidity, before building into something far more powerful. The lighting, the choreography and the soulful soundtrack — featuring the wonderful Nina Simone — combine beautifully to create a sense of transformation and release. There’s even a hint of humour and playfulness in the way the dancers interact, as if they’re caught between resistance and freedom.
Overall, Kismet is an impressive and thought-provoking evening of dance. Rambert’s dancers are as captivating as ever — expressive, daring and totally committed. Even for those who might approach contemporary dance with a bit of apprehension, there’s plenty here to enjoy and interpret in your own way.
Kismet continues at the Theatre Royal Bath until Saturday, and it’s a show that reminds you how movement, music and emotion can tell stories words sometimes can’t.
For more information and to book tickets, go to www.theatreroyal.org.uk
