Choreographer Botis Seva’s latest work, Until We Sleep, is a compelling and atmospheric exploration of resistance, transformation, and survival through the lens of hip-hop theatre. Having risen from his early days as a hip-hop dancer in East London to acclaim on the European stage, Seva channels darkness not as a cloak for uncertainty, but as his creative cosmos—a space teeming with subconscious energy and nuanced expression.

Set against a backdrop of authoritarian power, the narrative follows a lone female figure, portrayed by Victoria Shulungu, a longtime collaborator with Seva, who leads a restless, wandering community. Her presence on stage is both commanding and contemplative, embodying a sage-like quest for faith and clarity amid struggle, hope, and reckoning. The journey unfolds in a surreal realm of shifting passages in time, highlighting the tension between oppressive forces and the enduring human spirit seeking salvation.

The work’s staging is minimalist yet evocative. Tom Visser’s lighting design layers the space in dim, hazy shadows, alternately flickering and shifting like stars or flames, while tall LED poles frame the stage, at times morphing into a cage or the teeth of a whale. This visual austerity complements Torben Sylvest’s intricate electronic soundscape, which melds percussion with guttural, celestial tones, creating a sonic environment rich in texture and resonance. Together, these elements form a volatile arena that accentuates the dancers’ rhythmic movements and the overarching theme of an omnipresent higher power shaping their reality.

Seva’s choreography is a synthesis of physicality and freeform movement, deeply rooted in hip-hop vernacular but also drawing subtle influences from his mentor Hofesh Shechter. The six ensemble members, identified as Far From The Norm, execute sequences with wiry energy—tight steps, sudden bursts, and agile, almost animalistic motions that convey resilience against adversity. Their feathered costumes evoke warriors shedding old identities, symbolising transformation and transcendence. The dancers appear buffeted by invisible forces, as if caught in relentless winds, expressing both vulnerability and defiance.

Until We Sleep is deliberately opaque, demanding immersion rather than straightforward comprehension from its audience. It shows a confident commitment to a distinctive artistic world, an introspective dive into the mind of an artist coming into his own. Earlier works by Seva, such as BLKDOG, similarly navigated dark and oppressive themes, combining restive, grounded movement with stark visual and auditory effects. However, Until We Sleep adds a layer of poetic invocation to the human spirit’s struggle to remain awake in a world that seems determined to induce sleep—a metaphor for submission or despair.

The production’s immersive style has met with mixed responses in wider programming contexts, where its murky atmosphere and elusive meanings contrast with more direct or traditional narratives. Nonetheless, Seva’s work is recognised for its skillful execution and raw emotional force, underpinned by an ensemble of dancers who bring a strong individual presence to the stage. The interplay of movement, sound, and light crafts a potent meditation on the complexities of faith, leadership, and resistance in a fluctuating world.

As the show tours and reaches diverse audiences, it continues to cement Botis Seva’s reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop theatre, blending visceral intensity with subtle symbolism. Until We Sleep stands as a testament to the transformative power of dance to articulate the tensions and hopes that define contemporary existence.

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Source: Noah Wire Services