A unique production that features a powerful collision of a live marching band with the raw beauty of contemporary dance to honour the Gallipoli landings in 1915, The New Zealand Dance Company’s production of Rotunda plays selected dates throughout Australia.
This expressive and emotive work has been created by Shona McCullagh, Artistic Director of The New Zealand Dance Company in collaboration with a cast of eight dancers, musician Chris O’Connor, musical director Don McGlashan (An Angel At My Table), and composer Marc Taddei.
The production brings to life the world of the band rotunda, an iconic symbol of early 20th Century community where memories of loss and love are rekindled in a haunting snapshot of the joint history of Australia and New Zealand.
The innovative and unmistakably New Zealand choreography combines an earthy, free-flowing mix of styles and highly physical contemporary dance, along with a gorgeous transformative set and striking costuming, conjure an intense emotional landscape.
This rhythmic and expressive dancing integrates shadow play, mace twirling, a fusion of Maori tradition, and the rich vein of brass music playing a range of heartfelt hymns and stunning new brass works – the result, a hauntingly jaunt and deeply felt score.
The production draws from the extraordinary courage and indomitable spirit of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) men and the women who set about running the country with aching hearts and dread that their men might not return.
Rotunda celebrates and commemorates the ANZAC spirit and the themes of courage, loss, kinship and a desire for peace, and is presented by arrangement with Arts Projects Australia with support from Creative New Zealand’s Touring Australia Initiative.
Rotunda
Her Majesty’s Theatre, 58 Grote Street, Adelaide
Season: 1 – 2 May 2015
Bookings: 13 12 46 or online at: www.bass.net.au
Playhouse – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne
Season: 7 – 9 May 2015
Bookings: 1300 182 183 or online at: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
Riverside Theatres, Corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
Season: 13 – 15 May 2015
Bookings: (02) 8839 3399 or online at: www.riversideparramatta.com.au
The Playhouse – Geelong Performing Arts Centre, 50 Little Malop Street, Geelong
Season: 21 – 23 May 2015
Bookings: (03) 5225 1200 or online at: www.gpac.org.au
For more information, visit: www.nzdc.org.nz for details.
Image: Rotunda – photo John McDermott