Song of Songs, Pam Tanowitz & David Lang, Barbican Theatre

Since Pam Tanowitz dazzled us with her first work seen in London, Four Quartets, just over four years ago, we have had the precious chance to see more of her extraordinary dances at Covent Garden. Now the American choreographer, possibly the best thing to happen to dance in the past few decades, returns to the scene of her London debut, the Barbican Theatre, with her latest work, Song of Songs.

Created in collaboration with the composer David Lang, Song of Songs brings to the stage the eponymous love poem, one of the best known and most celebrated biblical texts, the eroticism of which continues to enthral. Reviewing the New York premiere of Tanowitz's Song of Songs in July 2022, the New York Times described it as 'a refined, restrained and sometimes breathtakingly beautiful response to the poem' adding, 'the beloved here is beauty.'

Melissa Toogod, Zachary Gonder in Song of Songs. Photo: Maria Baranova
David Lang's unhurried score opens with voices intoning verses from the biblical text, and later adds cello, viola and percussion.

Tanowitz's choreography does not attempt a literal portrayal of the poem; rather, it approaches Song of Songs obliquely, suggesting rather than showing, by means of her very own extraordinarily pure dance language, which at certain points exhibits the simplicity of folk dance. She called the work a 'Jewish dance'.

Song of Songs is performed by seven dancers, and whereas there are sections for solo dancers or brief couples, its emphasis is very much on the group.

Christine Flores, Melissa Toogood, Victor Lozano, Maile Okamura, Zachary Gonder and company in Song of Songs. Photo: Maria Baranova
Designs are by Tanowitz herself with Clifton Taylor, and costumes are by Reid Bertelme and Harriet Jung.

Song of Songs will certainly be one of the highlights of autumn at the Barbican – we couldn't recommend it strongly enough!

Age Guidance: 12+
Post-show talk, Thu 12 Oct
Pam Tanowitz and David Lang in conversation with Gideon Lester, Artistic Director at Bard. Free to same-day ticket holders.