A graffiti-covered limo, Juicy Couture tracksuits, and the unmistakable voice of Elvis Presley: this week, these elements became part of the choreographic language of (LA) HORDE, the acclaimed Marseille-based company who partnered with Rambert to take over the banks of the Thames in a spectacular and immersive show.

The Southbank Centre hosted the UK premiere of We Should Have Never Walked On The Moon, a bold collaboration between Rambert, and the innovative French collective (LA) HORDE, Ballet national de Marseille.

The production transformed the Royal Festival Hall and the surrounding Southbank site into a fully immersive stage, inviting audiences to move, watch, and experience the performance in multiple spaces across the venue, both inside and outside.

Borrowing its title from a quote attributed to Gene Kelly in conversation with Buzz Aldrin, the performance brought together a cast of 80, including dancers from both companies, films, art installation and DJs. An opportunity to wonder around the full space of the Southbank Centre. Unique!

Benoit Swan Pouffer, Artistic Director of Rambert said: “As audiences follow their instincts and create their own unique experiences walking through the different spaces of the Southbank Centre, this immersive dance event promises to be as exciting as it is unexpected.”

(LA)HORDE said: “We have designed ‘We Should Have Never Walked on the Moon’ as an encounter between the dancers of Ballet national de Marseille and performers who have been historical collaborators in our early work. Today, we are delighted to expand this dialogue by bringing in dancers from Rambert and students from the Rambert school, uniting two major European companies through a shared repertoire. We’re also thrilled to perform at the Southbank Centre in London again – this time taking over the Royal Festival Hall and wider site – as we only recently made our London debut at the iconic venue.”

The conceptual framework examined the role of the body in a post-internet world of infinite information and communication, while subtly questioning the dominance of mainstream American culture. How movement itself can become a force of homogenisation was also there. In (LA) HORDE’s universe, everyone is absorbed by screens, even a man carrying a contraption with forty phones, resembling a tourist wielding an oversized, high-tech selfie stick.

The performances and overall experience are raw, visceral and very sensual too. (LA) HORDE is known for pushing the boundaries of dance and performance, creating immersive, cross-disciplinary works that merge the physical, visual, and digital as well as working with Madonna. References to earlier shows staged in Le Louvre were also on screen.

Highlights included a film by Spike Jonze. The acclaimed filmmaker known for his innovative storytelling, collaborated with the French dance collective (LA) HORDE and electronic musician Rone on the short film Ghosts. Released in 2022, the film was produced by MJZ and features dancers from the Ballet national de Marseille. Ghosts was filmed in the Palais Longchamp’s Fine Arts Museum in Marseille. The narrative follows an invisible protagonist who encounters other spectral figures within the museum, exploring themes of isolation and connection.

Choreography included works by Lucinda Childs, Cécilia Bengolea & François Chaignaud, who activated the Cy Twombly room at Tate, a few years ago, as part of Boris Charmatz’s Musée de la Danse, and Oona Doherty. 

Hop(e)storm was probably the most impressive piece creative ecstatic reactions in the audience, blending Lindy Hop and rave culture. The fantastic piece features twelve dancers exploring themes of belonging, freedom, and social struggle. The work integrates music references, including Elvis Presley, and layers of political and cultural meaning. Part of the triple bill Bring Your Own, it follows (LA) HORDE’s earlier works Weather is Sweet and Room With A View. Pulse is definitely increasing while watching the energy of the dancers. Stunning.

We Should Have Never Walked On The Moon felt like a retrospective of (LA) HORDE’s work, enveloping viewers into ideas of contemporaneity, queerness and digital age. It truly blurred the lines between reality and dreamlike settings, while meditating on sexuality and current societal anxiety.

Image: Rambert dancers in Rambert x (LA)HORDE: Bring Your Own at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. Photo: Tristram Kenton