‘Goliath in the water’ presented by the Modeun Company is inspired by the homonymous novel by the South Korean author Kim Ae-ran. Unfortunately, the show did not come with any sort of programme note explaining the plot of such novel. This proved to be a major flaw. In fact, the unclear storytelling prevented a quite brilliantly skilled cast to shine in this performance.

As a matter of fact, the Modeun Company is clearly formed by outstanding dancers capable of mastering the stage both from a physical as well as an emotional point of view. Kyu Yeon Jeong’s death dance is a brilliant example of it. This solo act is moving to the point of being scary. The dancer performs in a haunting sequence of movements, which appear as if out of her own control. This force, that moves her body and overwhelms her, consumes her from the inside, bringing her to death. Equally moving is the duet full of tenderness where Moon Hyung-soo tries to bring her back to life.

As the performers clearly excel in this very expressive and unsettling dance style, it is a pity that the unclear storyline overshadows their skills. The performance touches themes regarding the human struggle in the face of nature. The presence of this superior negative force is very well communicated by the dancers gazing upwards and by their unsettling movement. Their powerlessness is enhanced by the desolating condition the protagonists seem to face.

Overall, the show left me perplexed and I still cannot completely make up my mind about it as none of these themes were fully explored. In fact, the inconsistence in the use of the space and the sudden change of emotions and movements expressing them hindered the performance, making it hard to follow. Perhaps this depends on the choice of presenting a show based on a novel quite unfamiliar to me. Nevertheless, I personally think this show lacks in coherence as the music, the choreography and certain reactions often seemed unrelated and contradictory.

Sofia Cotrona
Latest posts by Sofia Cotrona (see all)