Can all songs be danced to? That will be the question explored in the production Songs Not To Dance To presented by FORM Dance Projects at Riverside Theatres in March 2015.
Choreographer and dancer Martin del Amo has joined forces with Lismore-based dance artist Phil Blackman to delve into whether there are some songs that should never be danced to – either publicly or privately. To answer the question, the performers will attempt a series of contemporary dance solos and duets to a mix of songs that are either iconic, utterly obscure or extremely cheesy.
The talented duo will perform to songs including Christine Aguilera’s Beautiful, Jimmy Barnes’ Working Class Man and ABBA’s The Way Old Friends Do – spliced with tracks by legendary jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. By choosing to dance to the seemingly ‘undanceable’, the artists will playfully entice the audience to witness a series of attempts, against all odds, with as much dignity and humour as possible.
“I think most people can relate to the joy associated with dancing wildly in the privacy of your own bedroom or burning up to the dance floor in the wee hours of the morning,” says Performer Martin del Amo. “A lot of the songs we’re using are instantly recognisable and tap into the individual emotions they trigger for each audience member, may they be positive or negative.”
A renowned choreographer and dancer, Martin del Amo received a 2012 Helpmann Awards nomination for Anatomy of an Afternoon, which toured with great success to Southbank Centre London last year.
Phil Blackman has performed both locally and throughout parts of Europe and South East Asia. Recently he was an Associate Artist with NORPA (2010–2012) and featured in two of NORPA’s Generator works, Railway Wonderland, directed by Julian Louis (2012) and Beautiful Bones, choreographed by Brian Lucas (2012).
Songs Not To Dance To
Lennox Theatre – Riverside Theatres, Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
Season continues to Saturday 7 March 2015
Information and bookings: www.riversideparramatta.com.au
Image: Songs Not To Dance To – photo by Heidrun Löhr