By Jenny Enarsson Background on the production company: State of Emergency Limited is a dance and music production company that was founded in 1986 and provides a forum for Black British choreographers. The production title, 'The Mission' was chosen as a statement on the wealth of black choreographic talent available within British dance. Thoughts on the production:
The latest production from State of Emergency Limited offers choreography born from a mosaic of influences.  | | Dancers from State of Emergency Limited strike a pose from their production, The Mission. |
The audience is treated to Kandindo music and reggae, hip-hop and scratching, Japanese guitar music and the spoken word. Ranging from the theatrical to the dreamily abstract, the pieces that make up the performance explore human relationships and convey all kinds of emotions from joy to fury and everything in between. The choreographers have extensive experience from the UK and abroad and each make their own mark in this impressive production. To the sound of specially created and arranged music, we are transported from cheerful Zimbabwean beer halls to a jealousy laden love triangle; from timeless island life to urban observations on contemporary culture. The piece, 'Locks, Crops & Two Smoking Hot Combs' merges dance and spoken word in a hilarious and edgy account of the cultural meaning of black women's hair. Irresistible poet and playwright, Rommi Smith fuses entertainment and social critique, mimicking the style and form of anthropological studies as she guides us through the mysteries of black hair care. The Mission succeeds in making contemporary dance accessible to everyone regardless of their previous exposure to this art form. The talent, energy and love that oozes from the stage encourages each member of the audience to take away their own understanding of and feeling for what takes place on the stage.
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