Choreographers: Joel Ovonlen-Jones, Lana Williams, Nicola Mac, Martina Gumbs, Lukas Hunt, Masumi Endo, Jasmine M. Eccles, Ensemble Creation, Bafana Matea, Charise Renouf, Noel Rodriguez and Dollie Henry
The biennial Jazz Arts ReWired event returns to The Place for its one-night-only Convention performance, bringing together five established and five newly emerging acts to celebrate dance based in the jazz tradition. Referencing both the history and future of the form, the selected choreographers range from the classic 40s and 50s-style jazz ballet with its easy Hollywood feel through funk and disco right the way up to contemporary RnB and hip hop that point to new forms of music and dance fusion. The ten different companies result in a mixed effect across the two acts, while a reshuffling of the programme could create greater impact.
Largely, convenors Dollie Henry and Paul Jenkins sandwich the emerging artists between the established choreographers, which may reduce the pressure but makes for an uneven night. Two of the strongest pieces – Lukas Hunt’s Inner Demons and Masumi Endo’s Jazz Is – are scheduled sequentially just before the interval rather than either side of it, an opportunity to end Act One and start Act Two on an equally strong note.
Endo’s piece is a riot of movement with waves of dance exploring group and solo pieces that explore the diversity of jazz and its engagement with the audience. Hunt’s phenomenal Inner Demons places three ballet-inspired dancers in conjunction, emphasising the physical lyricism of the individual told largely through the upper body, laced with hints of cha-cha-cha that is reminiscent of Ballet Black’s work.
In Act Two, the best piece is from emerging artists Ensemble Creation, performed by Fully Functioning Individuals (FFI Dance Company). Spirit is second in the running order but the company’s use of space in their examination of connection and modern pressures is excellent, opening out as five individuals but coming together as group, all evocatively choreographed to music by Sampha 2.
Soloist Noel Rodriguez is equally engaging with his piece Bango, a biographical journey through the musical influences inherited from his father and the legacy Rodriguez would like to leave for his own son. This imaginative and playful piece is full of charisma as the dancer-choreographer incorporates salsa, break dance and street styles to create one of the most impressive performances of the night. These incredibly strong dances could have made a much stronger statement about the future of Jazz Arts ReWired by opening and closing the show rather than placed in the middle of Act Two.
The remaining performances are varied with mixed success; Joel Ovonlen-Jones and Lana Williams present a great idea in Bye / Dark Eyes, connecting Ovonlen-Jones’ former tennis career to his new life as a jazz dancer incorporating ballet, Argentine tango and jive, but the piece feels under-rehearsed, resulting in a scrappiness in its speedy final section. Other pieces are a matter of taste, perhaps with Bafana Matea and Charise Renouf’s African-inspired duet proving posed and very polished but failing to create emotional connection, while the floaty Daughters of Eve explores feminine energies but feels a little underwhelming as a finale.
Nonetheless, there’s a huge amount of dance and choreographic talent on display and Jazz Arts ReWired has worked hard to create a diverse and energetic programme. When they return in 2027, the running order will be key.
Reviewed on 20 September 2025
The Reviews Hub Star Rating:
70%
Music and dance fusion