Push

Published Monday 7 April 2008 at 14:30 by Lyndsey Winship

Back in 2005, Russell Maliphant created the duet Push for himself and Sylvie Guillem, the former Royal Ballet principal who was looking for a new artistic direction in contemporary dance. The reception was ecstatic and three years on Push has now been seen by nearly 100,000 people around the world.

The star attraction, of course, is Guillem. She is a stunning dancer of immense power, plasticity and control, and the extreme manipulation of her incredibly long, lean limbs is regularly jaw-dropping. But the purpose of Push is not to flaunt Guillem’s spectacular technique, it’s something much more grown-up, intelligent and profound than that.

The key is in the relationship between Guillem and Maliphant as dancers. We’re not talking about melodramatic passion but a deep affinity, an effortless understanding, as they wend their way round each other, as they share each other’s weight, as Guillem jumps in the air to be caught by waiting hands or is lifted overhead. Lighting designer Michael Hulls turns the bodies of the dancers into sculpted marble, as Guillem balances in a poised arc on the plinth of Maliphant’s back or is draped over his muscular shoulder.

Push feels like a portrait of a long, rich, mature relationship - both dancers are now in their forties and there’s experience and honesty in their performance. It’s abstract dance but there’s something very real in the choreography, hinting at the myriad of actions and emotions any couple, or friendship, might go through, whether they be support, escape, encouragement, protection or concord. You can read into it what you will, but there’s no doubt Maliphant and Guillem have created a deeply beautiful moment in dance.