One of our Young Ambassadors, Vicky, tells us what she thought of Shobana Jeyasingh’s absorbing dance piece performed in the Hippodrome’s Patrick Centre last month.

A combination of Indian and Hip-Hop dance was what I had prepared myself for when I went to see Material Men redux in the Patrick Centre. However, after experiencing the show, I’d say it was much more than that. The duo offered an emotive performance, backed by a live string quartet and an audio recording revealing the hidden history of India.

For me, my favourite part of the performance were the dance moves involving the sari.  Initially, I did not think that it would be possible to create such a wide range of dance moves using a piece of material. As well as this, I was thoroughly impressed by the use of balance and strength by the performers during the show.

The Patrick Centre, situated within the Hippodrome, offers shows for a more intimate audience size than the main stage. After viewing Material Men and the Chinese Classical Showcase in there myself, I like how this studio space offers an opportunity that cannot be experienced in larger auditoriums. Due to its smaller size, Patrick Centre audience members are able to see the finer details of the performance and feel like they are a part of the show themselves.

I’m especially looking forward to seeing the upcoming Jungle Book in there!