COLOSSUS, Stephanie Lake & London Contemporary Dance School
COLOSSUS by Stephanie Lake Company, a co-production with London Contemporary Dance School at The Place and the Southbank Centre. © Camilla Greenwell
There is something powerful about dancers moving in unison.
This coming together into a single being, shifting as one, is so simple yet effective. So you would expect that experiencing 50 dancers doing just this would have moved me to metaphorical enlightenment.
Unfortunately, Stephanie Lake’s work COLOSSUS , premiering in the UK for the graduating show of the London Contemporary Dance School, struggled to feel colossal.
It started before we began, with a circle of dancers lying down as we took our seats in the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s Southbank, united in our relief at finding air conditioning. As the light dimmed and the rumbling electronic score began, the dancers began stretching out their hands, waking up for the 50 minutes of non-stop dance ahead of them. One dancer broke ranks to take to the centre, conducting the rest as they completed a series of movements in quick tandem like numerous Mexican waves. It was incredibly slick. These breakaway solos were a common theme throughout the night, either being chased across the stage by the remaining mob of 49, playing reverse tag (where the tagger stops), or leading the dancers in a trance.
COLOSSUS by Stephanie Lake Company, a co-production with London Contemporary Dance School at The Place and the Southbank Centre. © Camilla Greenwell
The choreography itself was a mix of styles, from light contemporary, with tilts, runs and expressive arms, as well as movement reminiscent of raggedy string puppets, to tap of all things. There were also moments of comedy amongst the pathos, such as eerie chattering teeth, which switched into terror as the dancers raced to the back of the stage in fear. As a performance intended to show off the results of the dancer’s training, you can see why this work was chosen.
Overall, this piece was about breaking away from the norm. If we can imagine, for a second, that this is set in a dystopian alternative universe, then the group are the masses following the orders of the state, staying in line. Those who broke away are the brave ones, vying for a better life, trying to strike up rebellion, seeing beneath the propaganda. That they continuously get reabsorbed back into the masses is political commentary that’s more documentary than fantasy than we’d like to admit.
COLOSSUS by Stephanie Lake Company, a co-production with London Contemporary Dance School at The Place and the Southbank Centre. © Camilla Greenwell
COLOSSUS had the parts for a great performance: large-scale (literally) ambition, moving and evolving choreography. But somehow it lacked the epicness its title deserved. It got stuck in some sections for too long, dragging the pacing and losing momentum. And overall it felt like it lacked drive. I am conscious when I say this that the dancers were students, taking their first steps into the professional world. But what I wanted to see more of was an embodiment of the steps. To feel like they were living it, embracing it, for each step to feel more purposeful. Too often it felt too airy and ungrounded.
That aside, this is obviously a group of talented young performers who will only continue to develop and grow as they enter the professional world. I wish them every success for their future careers.
★★★
COLOSSUS, Stephanie Lake
Performed by the graduating class of the London Contemporary Dance School
Southbank Centre, London / 25 June 2026
Press ticket
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