Elixir festival review – the dance of life through older eyes
Works from veteran dancers Germaine Acogny, Malou Airaudo, Louise Lecavalier and Ben Duke challenge perceptions of age, with performances full of spirit and maturity
November 2023
Rambert: Death Trap review – a double bill of despair from Ben Duke
The 2017 piece Goat, made in the aftermath of London terror attacks, loses its way but last year’s Cerberus is a powerful account of grief
December 2022
Ruination review – you’ll laugh and cry at this ‘Christmas show’ Medea
A merry Medea? Inside Lost Dog’s Ruination at the Royal Opera House – in pictures
May 2022
Rambert review – whirlwinds of wow
The company’s touring triple bill is a showcase of individual brilliance that testifies to the sure creative hand of director Benoit Swan Pouffer
February 2022
Lost Dog: A Tale of Two Cities review – a far, far better thing when dance does the talking
This Dickens adaptation is at its most vibrant when it relies on Ben Duke and co’s expressive choreography rather than complex dialogue
September 2019
Best culture of the 21st century
The best dance of the 21st century
Ferocious flamenco, bittersweet ballet and a harrowing masterpiece are among the greatest dance creations of our age
June 2019
Edinburgh fringe 2019: 10 essential shows
Jessie Cave’s intimate standup, a beatbox Frankenstein and a twist on the star-crossed lovers are among the Edinburgh shows we’ve previously reviewed. Here’s what we said …
December 2018
Best culture 2018
Top 10 dance shows of 2018
Romeo and Juliet muddled into middle age, Akram Khan suffered shell-shock, Rambert2 lost control – and William Forsythe gave ballet a stratospheric street shakeup
October 2018
'The body lights up': stroke survivors find their footing through dance
After fresh and funny takes on Shakespeare and Paradise Lost, Ben Duke brings together five people who have had a stroke to tell their stories – and help them reconnect with their bodies
February 2018
Juliet and Romeo review – star-crossed lovers try couples therapy
The week in dance: Juliet & Romeo; The Winter’s Tale – review
November 2017
Rambert review – Ben Duke's dance to the death is a searingly emotional joyride
Inspired by the onstage intensity of Nina Simone, the centrepiece of this triple bill blurs real life and performance to spectacular effect
October 2017
'Dancers didn’t speak to Merce Cunningham like this!': Ben Duke's backstage Rambert diary
He has 22 dancers, five musicians and six weeks to create a work that answers Nina Simone’s call for artists to reflect the times. Choreographer Ben Duke on the battles and breakthroughs of his new show, Goat
April 2016
New bromantics: the return of circus dancers Barely Methodical Troupe
In Bromance, they sketched out their blossoming friendship in dance and circus tricks. Now the Barely Methodical Troupe are riffing on Lord of the Flies with their new show Kin. They explain why it’s ‘a new tree in our garden’
August 2015
Edinburgh festival fringe works; Ballett Zürich review – it’s far more fun on the fringe
Dance blog
Why the Edinburgh festival is now the Place for dance
May 2015
Paradise Lost review – triumphant gallop through the story of creation
Dance blog
Stepping out of the past: modern dance’s heritage debate
October 2014
Like Rabbits review – Virginia Woolf story becomes dance-theatre fantasy
Lucy Kirkwood and Ben Duke have strikingly reinvented the story Lappin and Lapinova for the stage, writes Judith Mackrell
