Review: BLACK SABBATH - THE BALLET, Sadler's Wells

The combination of heavy metal music with ballet may not seem an obvious one but here we are thanks to the direction of Carlos Acosta, who had the vision to celebrate Birmingham’s most popular musical exports, Black Sabbath, in this three-act ballet from Birmingham Royal Ballet.

The three acts are each composed and choreographed individually, but they remain cohesive as a full show. The first act is focus on the music, the second on the band itself with the third act about the fans. Each act is staged with a different style, and the full space of the Sadler’s Wells stage is used to great effect.

The first act begins with all of the dramatic energy which you might expect from such a collaboration. The opening lyrics of "War Pigs" blast out with iconic vocals intensified by the powerful performance of the orchestra. The dark stage is filled with the company and the music and dance play together extraordinarily. The drama of the dance brings a deeper emotion to the music, but conversely the passion of heavy metal is felt through the dance.

But this is not just a big headbanging ballet, there is a real tenderness and connection to the music which is portrayed through a superb dance to an instrumental "Solitude". This arrangement and the slower pace are at odds with what might be expected from Black Sabbath. The dance is passionate and beautiful, with stunning choreography from Raúl Reinoso.

The focus on the second act is the band. Whilst the music is featured throughout, the dances are often overlayed also with snippets from interviews with Tony Iommi and other band members and family. These tell the story of a group of young man, unfamiliar with the music industry, succumbing to the temptations of a rock and roll lifestyle. The dances are more disjoined in this act, as they represent the impact the harsh realities that rock and roll had on the band itself.

During the final act, the dancers are the fans, each wearing a Black Sabbath band t-shirt and celebrating the music and the band. Choreographed by Pontus Lidberg, the dancers capture the passion and exhilaration of being in the mosh pit of a heavy metal gig in a poised graceful manner. It sounds like a contradiction, but the talent of the dancers and orchestrations pull it together beautifully.

The dancers really seem to be enjoying themselves as they enthusiastically feel the music. There is much more interaction here with guitarist Marc Hayward who features for both Act I and Act III. This builds to a stunning climax set to "Paranoid". The orchestration builds to a point where the energy is sensational.

This is a stunning and exciting ballet for audiences who are lovers of dance and a passionate celebration of Black Sabbath for lovers of their music. For anyone who is a fan of both, this incredible and triumphant performance will stay with you for a long time.

Black Sabbath-The Ballet is at Sadler's Wells until 21 October.

Photo Credits: Johan Persson

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