IN THE BRAIN, Hofesh Shechter Company at Queen Elizabeth Hall 22 – 25 July 2026

‘like a murmuration of starlings, thousands of pieces of their body move in a smooth, fluid motion’ ★★★★★

Hofesh Shechter’s IN THE BRAIN, was first performed in 2022 in New York, part of a showcase of work honouring Martha Graham’s legacy in the evolution of contemporary dance.  Inspired by techno club scene and raves, the auditorium has an appropriately smoky lighting effect.  When the curtain open, this is continued on stage. The lights are dim and eight dancers are swirling and writhing around, over and under each other, low to the ground. The effect is something like a primordial soup, but there is something special about the movement of the bodies.

Right from the first, Hofesh Shechter’s style of dance is visible. There is a boneless quality and a very low centre of weight to the dancers, who appear to have stones low in their bodies, grounding and weighing them down. It has a freeing quality, a relaxation which allows for dynamic movement, especially in the arms and hands. Each of Shechter’s dancers appear like a murmuration of starlings, thousands of pieces of their body move in a smooth, fluid motion. At times they appear to be so close together, that the question arises of how they are kept separate and do not bump into each other.

It is all the more remarkable, that this is Schechter II, performed by dancers 18 – 25 years old. Launched in 2018, it is the only paid professional development programme of its kind for emerging contemporary dancers in the UK.

As the scenes progress, so does the pounding of the music (arranged by Shechter himself), percussive and repetitive with matching movements often quite animalistic. Tom Visser’s lighting design is very powerful. Down lighting and uplighting are both used to highlight the dancers and change the quality of the scenes. At one hour long, and no scenery or props, these lighting and sound changes are very welcome to bring new focus on the dancers.  At one point the stage went dark, raising the question of whether there had been a technical hitch, but no, when the lighting came up again, all of the eight dancers appeared in another spot on the stage like rabbits pulled out of a hat, lithe and energetic.  This effect was repeated a few times, the dancers so quick and silent that their reappearance was quite magical.   

Midway through the piece the dancers began to separate with solos and duets, clearer lines and demarcations between them, perhaps signalling the growth of mankind, but they are still staying in character. They bring a particularly Jewish way of moving, with a nod to traditional dancing, and repetitive gestures. Feelings of despair, of ritual and supplication are also shown, in rhythmical pounding and fiery display.   Yet, there is also a nod to traditional dance forms from other cultures, perhaps to remind us of the Jewish diaspora. 

A final word to the costume designs by Osnat Kelner which had a lovely colour palate: subdued, soft blue, yellow ochre and white with a smidge of red. The clothes allow an ease of movement, flowing with the body and yet each design is different. The dancer in the suit, had the first solo, and because he was the first, it is quite a memorable, a shift away from the community into individuality.  

Altogether, it is an astonishing piece of choreography, we might assume that the dancers had some input of their own, as they are an international cast, bringing a hint of other cultures whilst remaining grounded in Shechter’s techniques.   The standing ovation they all received was very well deserved. 

IN THE BRAIN

Weds 22 – Sat 25 July 2026, 7.30pm,

AT THE SOUTHBANK CENTRE’S

QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL AS PART OF ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

BOX OFFICE https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/hofesh-shechter-in-the-brain/

Choreography & Music: Hofesh Shechter

Lighting Design: Tom Visser

Costume Design by Osnat Kelner

Sound Collaborator: Frédéric Despierre

Additional Music: CAVE by Hofesh Shechter and Âme (Kristian Beyer & Frank Wiedemann). Licensed by arrangement with INNERVISIONS

Dancers: Matilde Agostinone, Teige Bisnought, Nagga Baldina, Federica Fantuzi, Woojin Kwon, Armand Lassus, Skiye Nataliah, Ella Roberts

Photography: Todd MacDonald