Review: HOW TO BUILD A UNIVERSE - EXTENDED PLAY (JAMAAL BURKMAR), The Place

How To Build A Universe by Extended Play (Jamaal Burkmar) is a work offering two key components according to the blurb. Initially “visually striking, mesmerising dance to intoxicating music”, followed by “improvisation with guest participants.”

In presentation it's a piece divided into seven chapters that all segue into each other.

The overall premise is the creation of a new universe (see title), overseen by a narrator (Burkmar one assumes) who acts as many things: dictator, comedian, historian, scientific theory podcast host and poet. The cast of five are guinea pigs brought in from previous civilisations, and we witness them being “calibrated”, all realised through a Daft Punk-esque aesthetic with masks and visors to boot. And very successfully, atmospheric lighting by Barnaby Booth.

In short it's a confusing, convoluted work that isn't succeeding in its current format.

From the outset, the word/concept heavy narration often doesn't relate to the disjointed movement being executed, so disconnection feels apparent, which manifests into lack of focus - from the observer perspective at least - and soon develops into boredom, and ultimately annoyance.

Chapters 3 and 5 are absolutely the best moments during the evening, and interestingly they're also the periods where there's no narration, rhythmically structured music features, and the dancers actually dance - and by that I mean we see phrasing, flow, spatial patterning, unison and canon.

The music choice verges on the drum & bass end of experimental jazz, so can grate, and although the movement language isn't groundbreaking, Burkmar has an evident command of choreographic structure and offers a tasteful take on pared-down efficiency, which communicates with impact.

Chapter 7 saw four “strangers” and improvisational bedlam ensues. The four newbies only work with the five company members on the day of the performance, and I'm afraid it shows. They looked more petrified than excited, and the improvisation technique wasn't always successful. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure it requires sensitivity and awareness, and I saw three, if not four collisions during the experiment. Uneasy watching indeed.

Which brings me to my final point. Dance is many things, and that's absolutely the way it should be. However, it doesn't need to be everything to everyone at once. There's a difference between community dance and professional performance, and Extended Play/Burkmar’s hybrid is blurring the lines, and not in a positive way.

Not everyone will agree with this opinion, and that's understandable; I don't believe dance’s broad spectrum is so simplistic. Or at least it shouldn't be.

How To Build A Universe is at Ace Dance & Music Birmingham on March 22 & 23

Photo credit: Genevieve Reeves

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