Timely dance film that places young people front and centre
Twenty dancers sit on stools spaced diagonally across the courtyard of Halifax’s Piece Hall. A soundscore of breaths and stutters ensues as they intermittently jolt upwards from their chairs, arms raised as if about to speak. But they never make it to standing, instead descending dejectedly back into their seats.
This is the opening of The Aftermath, a new dance film (originally shown live in September) by Northern Rascals, Northern Broadsides and The Piece Hall. Performed by dancers from Calderdale aged 18 to 25, it explores the isolation, anger and hope young people have experienced during the Covid pandemic.
While the minimalism of the opening scene is effective in portraying how younger generations struggle to have their voices heard – a sentiment made more evident by the inclusion of excerpts from interviews blaming "youngsters" for rising infection rates – it isn’t given enough time to develop.
Instead, there is a jarring switch early on in the piece from simplicity to maximalism: the dancers suddenly begin to send their limbs in all directions, shake uncontrollably and backbend dramatically. The camera’s frequent cuts between different shots creates a sense of disorientation – though perhaps intentional, this makes it frustratingly difficult to see movements in detail.
This being said, the choreography is executed to a high standard by the talented young cast. There are also many poignant moments throughout, including supportive duets, a heartwarming game of catch with an invisible ball and a rousing final poem, which display young people’s capacity for hope, compassion and positivity in the face of their challenging future.
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