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★★★★
Wanted Posse have brought their 1920s themed hip hop show ‘Dance N’Speak Easy’ to the Edinburgh Fringe, performing at the vast McEwan Hall venue at Underbelly Bristo Square. Combining street dance with Charleston and Lindy Hop steps, the France-based company is transforming the expansive stage into an enigmatic club during the afternoons whilst the festival is on, set at the time of prohibition in the United States. Featuring a company of six, the show combines atmospheric lighting, era-appropriate music, suave costumes and mesmerising prop work, transporting audiences back to New York during the period.
Choreography and rhythm
The production is incredibly rhythmic, largely focusing on isolated movements over continuous group choreography to music. The limited narrative highlights the egos and personalities of the characters and involves lots of interactions between the dancers, emulating a stand off. It is surprising to see so much of the choreography performed without music, for a roaring twenties themed dance show, but nonetheless in doing this the creative team fully exposes the talent of the dancers, leaving them to captivate audiences with their extraordinary skillset and body percussion. My only comment would be that with no clear storyline, having so much of the show without music makes the middle section feel quite repetitive and lengthy and it is a welcome relief to see remixes of classic 20s songs return at the end.
Set, costume and lighting design
Many glass bottles are used within the set to evoke the feeling of a nightclub, presented collectively as a chandelier and as props at the back of the stage. Individual bottles are also included to create sound and add difficulty to the choreography, with the company never missing a mark when using them. The bottles have been beautifully lit to generate the ambiance of the historical underground clubs that were so desperate to stay out of the spotlight. This combined with the muted colour costumes, creates visual harmony on stage. The decision to embrace maroons, greys and dark colours in the costume design makes the production feel very stylish and classy, with no bold hues in sight.
An entertaining fusion dance show at the Fringe
Packed full of exhilarating moments, ‘Dance N’Speak Easy’ is a fantastic display of hip hop tricks and rhythmic footwork. It is also a great introductory show for any Edinburgh Fringe first timer, showcasing the widely popular genre of street dance with some clever theatrical elements. It will appeal to audiences of all ages, so would be a suitable option for all the family. Wanted Posse are at the McEwan Hall until 26th August (not 14th or 20th), with performances starting daily at 15:25. Tickets can be purchased via the festival website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Dance N’Speak Easy’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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