CABARET and burlesque are enjoying something of a revival in London at the moment, with more sequinned leotards and jazz hands in fringe clubs and back-alley bars than you can shake a nipple tassel at.
Greenwich Dance’s regular soirees at the art deco Borough Hall are obviously popular but it’s hard to see why based on their latest offering last Friday.
With candlelit tables and a well stocked bar, all the ingredients for a fabulous night were there, but unfortunately the result felt more like a community dance project — like Stepping Out without Liza Minnelli.
After a promising start from Tamzen Moulding’s acrobatic troupe InvertedDance, the night quickly descended into unintentional hilarity with a trouser dropping solo from dancer Matthew Hawkins.
Frustrated boredom followed, as Wendy Houstoun — looking like a sad Christmas tree with a string of lights wrapped around her — delivered a dreary, poetic monologue.
Two bottles of wine later and Uchenna Dance’s African-inspired piece had energy but lacked imagination.
“Someone messed up big time,” Houstoun drawled. Yes, they certainly did.
Greenwich Dance’s next event will be a Family Cabaret on April 9 at 3.15pm. Visit greenwichdance.org.uk
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