It’s rare to see pure jazz dance on stage in the UK, even in its natural home of musical theatre, where contemporary, street and commercial styles have encroached. And it’s impressive that choreographer Dollie Henry and musical director Paul Jenkins have kept the clear labour of love that is Body of People Jazz Theatre Company (BOP) alive since 1996, dedicated to jazz performance and education.
Jazz is a very open sort of dance, made of bright, clean angles, arms stretched out wide, kicks up high. It’s a faces-forward, look-you-in-the-eyes dance. We’re giving this to you, it says – open hearted too, and emotionally literal (a scene here with a painter and his muse reminds you of a vignette on Strictly). There are plenty of people who find the farther reaches of contemporary dance baffling and there’s a place for this more straight-ahead style.
