The Adelaide Fringe Festival kicks off 17 February and the dance program is packed with possibilities. There are performances as well as possibilities to participate across a range of genres, including contemporary, Indigenous, classical Indian, hip hop, tap, break and flamenco. Here’s a taste of some of the many dance shows on offer… for the full program of dance, head to the Adelaide Fringe Festival website.
Nationally renowned dance artist Larissa McGowan brings her new work Mortal Condition to the Adelaide Fringe. Exploring a very human relationship and the world of gaming, Mortal Condition sees an unrestrained union turns to video games to ease the monotony. What would your avatar look like? If you could choose different parts of you, what could you be instead? Mortal Condition is a journey into a virtual world of contemporary dance and plays Adelaide Fringe 25 February.
One of the recipients of the 2017 Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund is Elements Collective’s M.I.N.D.E.D. Hailing from Queensland, Elements Collective use hip hop to explore the ways that mind can create altered perceptions of reality, and the effect this has on the body. Utilising Elements Collective’s combined expertise in break dance and contemporary theatrics, M.I.N.D.E.D pushes the boundaries of hip-hop theatre. M.I.N.D.E.D plays Adelaide Fringe Festival 16 February – 5 March.
North East Arnhem Land’s Indigenous dancers, Djuki Mala, is one act that stands out in the line-up. Winner of Best Dance at the Adelaide Fringe in 2015, Djuki Mala fuses traditional Yolngu and contemporary pop culture, dance and storytelling to create a work of timing, comedy and clowning. Since Djuki Mala’s 2007 clip of “Zorba the Greek” went viral, the group has performed live around the world. Djuki Mala will play 17 Adelaide Fringe February – 5 March, plus Rock the Pocket at Stirling Fringe 2 March.
Victoria’s Tuxedo Cat brings Tangled Adulthood to Adelaide Fringe, a piece of physical theatre, live music and sound. Are we adults or are we just pretending? What happens when childlike curiosity takes over your perception of the 'adult' world? Tangled Adulthood will explore what being an adult actually means from 23-28 February.
The Right of Unravelling sees rhythmic patterns, sampling, song, power and effortless release all come together in an improvised performance. Choreographer Zac Jones and composer Ziggy Zeitgeist have created a performance form that synthesizes the insights of musicians, martial artists and dancers into one and you can catch it at Adelaide Fringe from 2-5 March.
In addition to dance, there is also plenty of circus on offer at the Adelaide Fringe and Fauna (pictured top) is a show that may interest Dance Australia readers. Fauna is an exploration into the similarities and contrasts between human movement and the instinctual, primal behaviours within the animal kingdom. With acrobatics set to an evolving live soundscape, the performers each embody a distinctly animalistic character, utilising their specfic traits to govern how they develop and interact with each other. Fauna plays Adelaide Fringe daily throughout the festival.
To find out all about these and many more shows head to the Adelaide Fringe Festival website.