Bangarra’s first venture into cross-cultural collaboration has resulted in one of its most mesmerising programs to date.
The program commences with Kulka, a short 20 minute work choreographed by Bangarra alumni, Sani Townson, who embraces his Torres Strait heritage to create a work around the totems of the various clans who inhabit the Saibai and Torres Strait islands.
Crocodiles, cassowary, snakes, sharks and yam vines are referenced in a fascinating work for which Clair Parker has created striking costumes, and Elizabeth Gadsby’s stunning set that features a huge sloped mirror suspended above the stage to reflect a Busby Berkeley view of the dancers and their environment.
A striking lighting design by Karen Norris enhanced by extraordinary video images projected onto the floor of the stage created a mystical evening mood.
Presented in four sections entitled Life, Bloodline, Crocodile God and Adrenaline, Kulka commenced with a depiction of birth with Kassidy Waters in foetal position, being carried aloft by five male dancers clad in extraordinary reptilian costumes which later featured to great effect in the Crocodile God section.
The female dancers, introduced in the Bloodline section, were costumed in graceful sky blue, split-to-the-thigh costumes decorated with gold sequins, were most effective in the interesting lifts and groupings featured in Townson’s choreography.
The major work of the program The Light Inside was actually two works, Salt Water choreographed by Bangarra choreographer, Deborah Brown and Fresh Water choreographed by New Zealand choreographer, Moss Paterson.
Both sections featured ravishing costumes designed by Jennifer Irwin, an evocative setting by Elizabeth Gadsby. Steve Francis and Brendan Boney composed the soundscapes which drove the action.
As with Kulka, both Salt Water and Fresh Water employed the device of linking a series short abstract works given individual titles to represent the inspiration for its creation and linked by an over-arching title, in this case The Light Inside. Both works shared the same set and costume designers and composer. The two works were performed without a pause between, relying in the change of choreographic style to differentiate between them.
Daniel Mateo set the tone for Deborah Brown’s work Salt Water with a solo entitled Cylinder which celebrated the 141 wax cylinders on which anthropologist Alfred C. Haddon preserved the sacred stories of his ancestors.
Courtney Radford, Maddison Paluch and Emily Flannery followed with a trio entitled Sails for which Jenifer Irwin’s graceful flowing costumes suggested the sails of pearling luggers and the boats which brought missionaries and religion to the islands.
Similar sections with tiles such a Divers, Reef, Boundaries and Rejuvenation followed, danced by small groups or the full ensemble, with Lillian Banks particularly impressive in a lovely solo entitled Blue Star.
For his section, Fresh Water Moss Patterson took his inspiration from the stories, dances prayers and rituals embraced by his mother and grandmother of the Ngati Tuwharetoa in New Zealand. His choreographic style was much more aggressive than that of Brown’s, though no less poetic. All his sections, with one exception, involved the full ensemble.
The dancing throughout was mesmerising, often incorporating moves associated with the Haka. The notable exception was entitled Sacred Hair in which four dancers ritualistically wove each other’s hair together.
This departure in style from narrative and political works towards a more abstract contemporary style of presentation has been achieved without in any way compromising the mysticism associated with the Bangarra Dance Theatre productions, resulting in an evening of dance which can only be described as STUNNING.
Horizon
Canberra Theatre – Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, Canberra
Performance: Thursday 18 July 2024
Season: 18 – 20 July 2024
Information: www.bangarra.com.au
Following the Canberra season, Horizon will be presented at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (7 – 17 August) and Arts Centre Melbourne (29 August – 7 September).
Images: Bangarra Dance Theatre presents Horizon – photos by Daniel Boud
Review: Bill Stephens OAM