As we collect our tickets, we are welcomed by dancers limbering up in the Sadler’s Wells East foyer, quickly setting the tone for the dance show ahead.
Entering the space, we’re caught in the pulsating beats of reggae and dubstep. Through Luke Jackson’s lighting, imagine a dimly lit nightclub setting and you get the vibe of what Jamaica born, UK residing choreographer Akeim Toussaint Buck is going for in his latest production, Free. The Company are already in place – slowly gyrating and instantly making us feel relaxed. It’s atmospheric.
Free is described as a ‘a powerful journey celebrating resistance, rhythm and the radical joy of freedom’ with award-winning Buck additionally as singer and songwriter, music played by his band, Buck and The Magnificence encompasses jazz, reggae, ska, and dub inspired songs. The soundtrack takes us through a range of emotions -sometimes soothing our soul, others are haunting, a cry for help or a call to action – particularly relevant in the aftermath and devastation in Jamacia after Hurricane Melissa.
Robyn Hughes’ set features colourful speakers and African tapestry adorn the back wall, tribal masks are suspended in the air, a nod to the ancestors amidst the intoxicating bassline and Nyabinghi rhythms – music is almost like a character of its own – such is its power and significance.
An immersive experience of any discipline can often be greeted with scepticism and trepidation for the audience member who prefers to stay in the background but if that’s you, worry not, as Toussaint To Move’s Free allows you to choose the level of immersive experience that best suits you and your temperament and mood. This is primarily a standing performance with limited beanbags if you prefer or you can simply sit on the floor. We were not quick enough to grab a beanbag and so our initial experience found us seated but that was short-lived, as soon as the performance started, my guest and I were up on our feet, compelled to enjoy and appreciate this unique show.
Alongside the Company of five, Aline Simo Kamga, Francesca Matthys, Jemima Tawose, Márcio Inácio and Manukaa Tony Kaaba, all barefooted, as they swagger and saunter across the floor, there’s the ensemble who morphed from regular audience members – of all ages and races – they bounce and skank, encouraging us to join them in being free and at one with the music. Everyone is welcome.
Toussaint himself is joyful, rubbing shoulders with us as he darts and weaves through the crowd – co-signing the brave souls who dared to be free, encouraging us to lively up ourselves. He even takes to the mic, temporarily turning the performance into a gig.
The fluidity of this audacious performance of which plays homage to Rastafarianism is beautiful and perfectly synchronised, mesmerising in parts. Tahe audience sways as the bare minimum as we take in skank (originating in 1960s Jamaican dancehalls), salsa, samba, two step, and yoga.
It is no surprise that there is reference to some of the current atrocities of the world, a dancer shouts ‘free Palestine, free Congo, free Angola’ then is quickly silenced by fellow dancers as they try to hide him, laughing and crying, whilst a song about oppressors fills the air.
There’s a fitting and rousing drum and bass inspired finale, they give us warrior-style moves, we stomp in time and get our frustrations out and I feel ready to take on the world. A dancer tells us to ‘come on, my friend’. We oblige, we rise up and dance in solidarity with the performers as the show dares to break the sacred fourth wall.
We went from not quite knowing what to expect to being blown away by an unforgettable and liberating experience. You owe it to your mind, body and soul to treat yourself to 60 minutes of pure, unadulterated joy – grab a ticket if you can. This dynamic and often playful show was the perfect tonic during a time when the world feels overwhelming as communities across the world face challenging times – freedom is not a luxury we are all privileged to have access to.
NEED TO KNOW: Toussaint To Move’s Free runs from 6-8 Nov 2025 before heading to Bradford Arts Centre, 21 Nov | Access £9 tickets to see Free
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