Enthusiam and passion sweep the stages at Nos Limites

A friend called me late last Wednesday; did I fancy seeing some contemporary dance in Hesdin on Thursday night? It seemed like a great idea – I love dance and was ready for a cultural night out. However, I was sceptical that Hesdin could deliver some serious, high quality dancing.

But I had not counted on the enthusiasm and talents of Les Festives artistic director Enrique Carballido. For the last nine years, Enrique has grown this week long festival into a ‘must see’ event. His determination to showcase interesting and challenging acts coupled with the chance to see such talent at low prices means that the festival has gone from strength to strength.

The atmosphere on Thursday night was full of anticipation. This event had been earmarked as suitable for children so there was a healthy mix of generations and the full capacity audience waited patiently but noisily for the inevitable delayed start that seems to go with so many French events.

The cavernous hall of the Salle du Menàge had been carved in two and the set was simple and starkly effective; two rows of high metal fencing, dimly lit, presented a bleak and evocative image. With the recent events at Calais and the demolition of le jungle, this piece about limits to frontiers, liberties and love couldn’t have been more poignant or topical.

With an effortlessness that defied the limits of the human body (well, certainly the limits of mine, that’s for sure!) this young troop of four men and two women dancers leapt to action and kept up a relentless and breathless routine for 90 minutes. Influences from street dancing, hip hop, acrobatics and classical dancing kept the audience enthralled throughout. The programme highlights included a faultlessly timed, enchanting and touching duet hinting at missed/forbidden love, tenderness and finally unity, and an extraordinary solo performance from a dancer so finely tuned and physically flexible as to appear liquid…mesmerising!

The sheer energy and dexterity of these dancers, their fearless and inventive use of the stage set, plus their obvious trust and great ensemble playing more than justified the noisy and boisterous standing ovation they received.

And all this for an unbelievable seven euros!

Enrique Carballido deserves huge praise for his passion in bringing this festival to the Seven Valleys. The 2010 (it’s tenth year) festival promises to be even bigger with an excellent variety of theatre, dance and music. Many of this year’s performances were sold out so keep an eye out for the 2010 publicity and book early to avoid disappointment!

Local culture vulture Isabel Murphy was captivated by a contempory dance performance at this year’s Les Festives in Hesdin

Enrique Carballido