Review: Join, Sadler’s Wells

As part of the Dance Reflections festival by Van Cleef and Arpels, JOIN by Ioannis Mandafounis offers an exploration of connection as two distinct groups of dancers – The Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company and the students from Rambert School here in the UK – join forces. The performance, staged at Sadler’s Wells East, captivates with its striking simplicity, bringing raw physicality and a visceral energy.

The aesthetic is minimalist, with a stark, black-box stage that remains unchanged for most of the production. Bleakly lit and devoid of decoration, this setting highlights the dancers’ movements, making the stage feel vast, open and brimming with potential. All of the dancers make full use of the freedom this space affords them, and the work is characterised by variety, spatial movement and expansive gestures.  Dancers appear and disappear in blackouts that are as abrupt as they are purposeful, creating a sense both of structure but also daring. The pacing of these transitions, akin to blinking, raises the level of suspense for the audience and gives the impression of a dreamlike, ever-changing landscape, where movement is the only constant. 

Some dancers are seated at the front of the stage with the audience, their presence almost passive at first, but as they seem to spontaneously join the work by climbing on stage, the work takes on another level of interest. This blending choreography with a sense of spontaneity allows the audience to feel part of the unfolding story. At times, the exuberance of the dancers’ movements evokes the uninhibited joy of childhood play, and it is easy to imagine oneself being swept up in that energy. (Thankfully, I resisted the urge to jump on stage – that really would have been a collaboration too far for them I think!)

Initially, the lighting remains subdued, leaving the dancers’ movements to speak for themselves. But as the work progresses, the interplay between sound and light intensifies, building to a dramatic crescendo. The finale is a pulsating rush of energy, as the dancers move with abandon under a striking colour wash. This climactic moment gives way to an unexpected reveal – the black curtain, which has surrounded the stage throughout, drops suddenly to expose the stark, unfinished interior of the stage area. This visual conclusion serves as a potent reminder of the piece’s origins: raw and alive with possibility.

It’s a shame that there are only two performances planned of this work, but this is the nature of the festival that it is part of. Whether or not you caught this performance, make sure to seek out Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company at the next opportunity, or visit Sadler’s Wells East to experience the exciting, intelligent modern dance that has been the hallmark of their opening season.

This is dance at its most raw and essential. There are minimal programme notes for this performance – the dance exists here in its purest form, to be appreciated and enjoyed on its own merits and not tied to a narrative or dictated by philosophical concepts, giving us a work that is as accessible as it is joyous.   

Choreography by: Ioannis Mandafounis

Join plays at Sadler’s Wells East until Sunday 23 March. Dance Reflections Festival plays until Friday 28 March.