Oona Doherty's 'Leather Jacket' Premieres at Bold Tendencies

Choreographer Oona Doherty's latest work, "Leather Jacket," premiered at Bold Tendencies in London, a venue situated within a multi-storey car park in Peckham. The piece features eight dancers who engage in a series of rhythmic movements, initially characterized by heavy foot slaps on the concrete floor. These movements evolve from solitary foot impacts to thigh slaps and bounces, eventually transitioning into Doherty's distinctive interpretation of Irish step dance. The performance is underscored by a shifting soundscape, beginning with an electronic score and concluding with experimental Irish folk music performed by Cormac Begley.

Doherty, known for her impactful early works such as "Hope Hunt" and "Hard to be Soft," has established a reputation for an urgent and unfiltered artistic voice. Her subsequent output has been noted for its individuality, though "Leather Jacket" is described as having a less conceptual focus compared to her previous major piece, "Specky Clark." The dancers, initially clad in leather jackets, shed them during the performance to reveal underwear, a visual element that accompanies the progression of their movement and the sonic environment.

The setting of Bold Tendencies, a unique performance space, contributes to the intimate and visceral experience of "Leather Jacket." The bright fluorescent lighting and the raw concrete environment of the car park enhance the close-up observation of the dancers' physical exertion. The review highlights the collective pleasure derived from the dancers' shared rhythm and their dedication to their "hard sweaty work." The transition in music from electronic beats to Cormac Begley's experimental Irish folk music marks a significant shift in the performance's atmosphere and thematic exploration.

Doherty's "Leather Jacket" is presented as a world premiere that emphasizes the raw energy and collective spirit of the dancers. The piece invites the audience to witness the physical dedication and the unified expression of rhythm, moving from percussive footwork to more complex dance forms. The review suggests that while the conceptual density might differ from previous works, the premiere offers a compelling display of Doherty's continued exploration of movement and performance in unconventional spaces.