This new dance production is a bedtime story for an uncertain world

Dickson Mbi, an acclaimed choreographer and Olivier Award recipient, is set to present TELLUS, a groundbreaking dance production that intertwines Cameroonian folklore with urgent ecological themes. The show will be staged at Sadler’s Wells East from October 21 to 24, offering audiences an immersive artistic exploration of humanity’s evolving and strained relationship with the environment.

Following his recent success with Enowate, which earned him the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance in 2023, Mbi embarks on his first ensemble project for his company, signaling a bold expansion of his creative vision. TELLUS draws heavily on Mbi’s cultural roots and personal reflections, inspired notably by his father’s storytelling traditions and the mythical figure of Mami Wata, a revered water spirit in West African beliefs.

The narrative centers on a young boy who arrives in a drought-stricken village, confronting the harsh realities wrought by environmental neglect. Guided by a mysterious Old Lady, who embodies both a guardian and a goddess figure, the boy embarks on a transformative journey to rekindle humanity’s connection to the natural world. This storyline serves as a metaphor for collective responsibility and the potential for restoration.

The production is a dynamic fusion of diverse dance vocabularies, combining contemporary choreography with elements of African traditional movement, grime, hip hop, and classical dance forms. This eclectic approach underscores the universality of the themes while reflecting the cultural hybridity of London’s East End, where the performance will take place.

Musically, TELLUS features an original score composed by Mbi himself, distinguished by African vocal arrangements and the distinctive rhythms of Chinese percussion instruments. The live performance of the score on stage enhances the immersive atmosphere, emphasizing the production’s commitment to a multisensory experience.

The collaboration with poet Nick Drake and mentorship from Simon McBurney of Complicité has been instrumental in shaping the piece’s narrative depth and theatrical complexity. This partnership has enabled the integration of poetic language and storytelling techniques that resonate alongside the physicality of dance.

TELLUS can be viewed as a contemporary fable that grapples with the challenges of raising awareness about climate change in a manner that is neither didactic nor despairing. Instead, it offers a hopeful yet urgent reflection on the ways in which ancestral knowledge and myth can inform present-day environmental ethics.

By situating the performance in East London, a locale that Mbi identifies as home, the production also engages with the local community and cultural landscape, adding layers of personal and geographical significance to the work. The choice of venue and timing speaks to an intent to make meaningful connections between the global climate crisis and specific urban experiences.

While further details about the staging and cast remain limited, the available information highlights TELLUS as a multifaceted artistic endeavor that challenges conventional boundaries between genres and traditions. It stands as a testament to Dickson Mbi’s innovative approach to dance theatre and his commitment to addressing contemporary issues through the lens of heritage and creativity.

As audiences prepare to experience TELLUS, the production promises to be more than entertainment; it is an invitation to reconsider our place within the natural world and the stories we tell to navigate uncertainty. The synthesis of folklore, live music, and diverse dance forms positions the show as a poignant cultural response to the environmental crises defining our era, as reported by dazeddigital.com.