Shechter II Premieres "In the Brain" With Rave and Ritual

Hofesh Shechter's latest dance piece, "In the Brain," premiered with his junior company, Shechter II, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. The work draws inspiration from rave culture and communal movement, a theme that has been prominent in contemporary dance since the early 1990s. Shechter, known for his rhythmic, beat-driven music, has evolved his style from angst-fueled to a more immersive engagement with sound.

"In the Brain" was developed from a 2022 piece called "Cave," originally created for the Martha Graham Dance Company. The current performance features Shechter II, a company composed of international dancers under the age of 25, who bring a palpable youthful energy to the stage. While not exclusively a high-energy party piece, "In the Brain" incorporates moments of quietude and slower pacing, including detours into swing and slow dancing. The atmosphere is further enhanced by Tom Visser's subtle, dusky lighting design and Shechter's moody score, complemented by additional music from German techno duo Âme.

The choreography is distinctly Shechter's signature style, characterized by specific gestural language such as hunched shoulders and raised arms, and the depiction of ritualized groups moving in unison. This style has influenced numerous other choreographers. While "In the Brain" does not venture into entirely new choreographic territory, its appeal lies in the powerful execution by the dancers and the evocative atmosphere created by the music and lighting. The performance celebrates communal movement and ritual, resonating with the enduring influence of rave and electronic music on contemporary artistic expression.