Philippe Decouflé can be likened to the Michael Clark of France. While Clark leans to punk to break the boundaries of ballet choreography, Decouflé turns to burlesque. ‘Contact’ has been described as everything from a ‘musical and visual comedy’ to ‘weird’ by the critics of his homeland. When the ballet performance celebrating differences, featuring sixteen male and female dancers of different colours and sexual orientations, finally reaches British shores this June, the choreographer hailed as a ‘theatical magician par excellance’ by the Times should expect a warmer reception.

 

Decouflé was most recently commissioned to create a performance to run alongside the V&A’s David Bowie exhibit as it came to Paris. If the six-part performance that ensued, entitled ‘WieBo’ (Bowie switched around), is anything to go by, fun and fury is to be anticipated in ‘Contact’ as well. As he worked with the Philarmonic, Decouflé aimed to project the many facets of Bowie’s character as a performer through multiple disciplines of song and dance. The spectacle can be descibed on as an aesthetic treat for the senses.

 

From disco balls to feather boas, Decouflé sure knows how to capture the spirit of artistic souls. ‘Contact’ will be an eccentric show to say the least with moves borrowed from circus acts and Bollywood numbers. Decouflé himself has been trained by mime, acrobatic and dance innovators over the span of his career. It is due time he take his performance art to the next level by directing a troupe of new dancers in a production unlike all others.

 

‘Contact’ is only in town for a few nights so make sure to get your tickets early for a very cultured night at Saddler’s Wells.