FROM A DANCER’S PERSPECTIVE: FKA TWIGS’ EUSEXUA TOUR
Words | Taylor Anderson - Images | Shokirie Clarke
We’re still not over last Saturday’s FKA Twigs’ Eusexua Tour show at Magazine London. Seriously, it’s all we’re talking about. The choreography and execution was out of this world and each performer brought their own flair, extensive range of skills and formidable presence to the stage. The sensational set pieces took inspiration from ballroom culture and a variety of dance genres including: Ballet, Contemporary and Commercial, with an homage to the artistry of sex work. The show is pleasure at its purest, rawest and most imaginative – it’s EUSEXUA.
After three captivating acts – The Practice, State of Being and The Pinnacle – the performance is topped off with a haunting rendition of ‘Cellophone’ by a latex-clad Twigs hooked up to a cubed frame. As the multi-talented artist sings, “didn’t I do it for you?” it’s almost darkly comical and ironic because Twigs and the dancers have literally shown us they can do it all.
“Visceral…soulfully crafted, unique, a real work of art. Twigs is an icon… to see her delve into her music and let it express in so many forms… contemporary dance, vogue, sword pole, and though stunning, poetic and provocative imagery. Her dancers were a true extension of Twigs and her music. Incredibly talented, they pulled you with them through the show." - Emma Farnell Watson
At a time when a third of British nightclubs have closed, this show feels poignantly relevant, as if FKA Twigs and the club scene are saying ‘love what you love and fu*k everything else’. One section of the show is currently taking off on socials – the ‘Vogue’ by Madonna inspired number. It’s a fun highlight paying respect to movement pioneers José Guitérrez Xtravaganza and Luis Camacho Xtravaganza. Powerfully smooth voguing choreography has been provided by ballroom consultant Thanh-Tú Sattva Nguyen (@sattva.unltd), also known as Sattva Ninja, in collaboration with James Vu Anh Pham with direction from Jordan Hemingway (@jordan_hemingway). A country line sequence shifts the vibe during ‘Girl Feels Good’ and is a nod (cowboy boots and all) to the pop icon’s ‘What It Feels Like for a Girl’ (2000).
“I was kind of everyone’s mother for that time period as well as FKA Twigs who had previous voguing training with Benjamin Jonsson from the House of Elle…she was also very aware of making it culturally right and wanted to make it work within the vision of Glass and Patron and Figure 8.” – Sattva Ninja
MOVES caught up with Sattva Ninja for an inside scoop on what being a ballroom consultant entails and how dancers and choreographers can remain respectful to the community. Sattva Ninja made her start in Hip Hop, freestyle and battles while training in numerous styles such as popping, locking, waacking, voguing and breaking, (not to mention artistic gymnastics too): “I just wanted to train every dance style I was able to come across and learn their culture, language and movement”. That’s when Sattva Ninja came across Vogue Fem, New Way and Arms Control, falling in love with the ballroom culture.
“It’s challenging to teach people about ballroom who have actually never been to a ball before, never walked a ball or are not in the community or in a house…you have to be a part of the community and the environment of the culture to really understand it and their movement languages.” – Sattva Ninja
In preparation for the show, Sattva Ninja tapped into each dancer’s particular strengths, helping them to “express themselves” through ballroom. But if the movements weren’t “giving ballroom” Sattva Ninja would guide them back to the roots. Juju and Maji are the only dancers on the tour who came with that similar level of training, the rest had impressive experience but in other dance styles which at times posed a challenge: “it was definitely a hard task but as the incredible movers they are, the respect they have for the culture and with the right guidance, it wasn’t impossible”. Paying deep respect to the genre is an intention all the dancers were aligned with, and so, they worked together to be better: “with grace, love, care and so much positive energy.”
FLOWERS TO THE EUSEXUA DANCERS
“Everyone is their own artist with their own personal movement language which has shaped the show.” – Sattva Ninja
EDDY (@eddysoaress) - Eddy the international Brazilian breakout star, provides choreography for numbers ‘Papi Bones’ and ‘Honda’. Eddy, who at one point picks up a guitar in the show and doubles as a musician, smashes a solo in ‘Figure 8’ with choreography by Sattva Ninja. Eddy started out teaching himself dance by watching videos as there were few training opportunities in São Gonçao. Once the dancer started leaning into Hip Hop, success soon came fast. Eddy went on to tour the world and collaborated with popstar Rosalía for the Motomami Tour in 2022.
EMILIANO (@emiliano_jimenez) - Mexican visual artist, Emiliano, is a dancer and choreographer with a strong background in Ballet, Contemporary and Hip Hop. Emiliano has unbelievable “body control”, can act to the people in the back of the room, has a string of internationally recognised accolades and has worked for Solange Knowles. “Emiliano is a stunning dancer” - Sattva Ninja.
JUJU (@eujujuliete) - Juju is a staple in the ballroom scene, known as the “Mother Brazil” in the Iconic House of Ninja, making Sattva Ninja and Juju basically sisters. Juju has training in circus performance, aerial, pole and uses real cracking whips in the show. Last year, the multifaceted artist released the music single ‘Dominatrix’, currently available to stream on Spotify.
JAMES (@jamesvuanh) - Australian-Vietnamese artist, choreographer and dancer James also plays clarinet and piano in the show. Prior to joining Twigs’ Eusexua tour, James was a part of Akram Khan Company, has collaborated with world renown Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and supported Madonna on the Celebration Tour. On collaborating with James for the number ‘Glass and Patron’, Sattva Ninja says, “I’m very grateful for him. We shared a very similar vision for Glass and Patron so it was easy to choreograph this with him. I was able to learn a lot through him, whilst also being able to share my work and my expertise to the creation process.”
JAX (@jaxonwillard) - American dancer Jax, is a former ‘World of Dance’ contestant whose power wowed the nation. It is likely you have already seen the dancer Abracadabra-ing with Lady Gaga or dancing in the magnificent Grammy performance by Doechii or on Madonna’s Celebration Tour with James. “Jax has so much energy and is still very controlled with it” - Sattva Ninja.
MAJI (@majiclaire) - From Copenhagen, Denmark, Maji is in the international House of Miyake-Mugler and is also the Danish Mother of the Kiki House of Louboutin. Maji who performs aerial in the show, is a long-time movement collaborator with FKA Twigs and during the Covid-19 lockdown, also fell in love with creating music.
MAX (@maxcookward) - Award winning queer movement artist Max, from the UK, has an extensive background in Ballet and Contemporary as well as having choreographed and directed for the world’s biggest names including Fontaines DC, Dua Lipa, Burberry and Nike Japan. They have performed in work choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and hold Meditation Movement workshops.
MESH (@meshhenry) - Mesh is a UK-based director and choreographer who has performed and collaborated with Rambert Dance Company. Mesh was the movement director and creative assistant for the 2023 Valentino show at Paris Fashion week and has recently worked on a Diesel campaign with Max. Only Mesh could have a Naginata fight with FKA Twigs on stage and live to tell the tale.
SHIVAWN (@shivawn) - Shivawn moved from Cape Town to Australia as a young dancer and from there became an international force to be reckoned with. Shivawn has been dancing from the age of three, built a solid foundation in Commercial Jazz and urban styles and started booking jobs at the age of 16. The versatile performer, with “a strength in heels”, has shared the stage with popstar heavyweights Rihanna, Beyoncé and Dua Lipa.
FLOWERS TO THE EUSEXUA CHOREOGRAPHERS
Imre and Marne van Opstal, the infamous Dutch sibling duo, led the choreography of the show with Billy Barry (@billybarry) adding further artistic vision as assistant choreographer. Eddy took care of ‘Papi Bones’ and ‘Honda’, while James and Sattva Ninja collaborated on ‘Glass and Patron’. Further credits go to Dani Vitale (@danivitale) and Zoï Tatopoulos (@ztato) among others who have contributed.
Trust FKA Twigs to invent a “state of being” which encompasses what it means to be human – “have you experienced Eusexua?” When watching the show, you bet I did. Eusexua is complete awe-struck bliss. FKA Twigs’ third studio Album Eusexua includes guest features from Koreless and North West. For tickets to the tour (13th Mar 2025 - 8th Aug 2025) click here - https://eusexua.fkatwi.gs/
