Dickson Mbi Premieres Tellus, an Eco-Folk Dance Work — SkimNews
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- Dickson Mbi premieres "Tellus" at Sadler's Wells East in London, running until 24 October, with the review calling it a more confident and expressive work than his Olivier-winning "Enowate"
- Mbi both choreographed and composed the score for "Tellus," a skill he honed during the pandemic, with live musicians performing on stage behind the eight dancers
- Tellus tells the story of a community struck by fire and drought appealing to the water goddess Mami-Wata, blending Cameroonian, hip-hop, contemporary, South Asian, and classical dance influences
- Mbi was mentored by Complicité's Simon McBurney and collaborated with poet Nick Drake on the scenario, while video designers YeastCulture handled the visuals
- Performers Nathan Goodman and Hannah Joseph earned specific praise — Goodman for spinning and leaping movement, Joseph for an imperious, tottering quality
Why it matters: For London's contemporary dance scene, the review positions Mbi as a maturing artistic force who has expanded from choreographer to composer in a single pandemic-era leap, and whose Cameroonian-rooted eco-folk narrative signals a bolder thematic ambition than his Olivier-winning Enowate.
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