Independent Melbourne-based contemporary dance company Vertical Shadows will premiere its latest work, The White Prince, in May. Dance Australia caught up with the company’s artistic director, Stephen Agisilaou to find out more about the man behind the company.
Contrary to what one might expect, Stephen Agisilaou believes that his late start in dance was an advantage. “I started out as a hip-hop dancer originally but when I moved to LA from Australia to continue my training I ended up in a contemporary company in Canada despite having never had any contemporary training,” he says. “The fact that I started dancing at 17 was, I feel, more of an attribute than a hindrance to me. I had always choreographed my own movements but I was basically learning as I went. Becoming exposed to theatre and dance at such a late age helped me stay passionate and driven.”
Agisilaou spent three years in Canada, dancing with MOVE: The Company before returning to Australia in 2009. It was then that Vertical Shadows came into existence. “I had just returned to Australia from my years in Canada and I wanted to produce a piece about that experience, he recalls. “Apart from that one project I hadn’t really thought ahead but that year I ended up producing three original works under the Vertical Shadows name. Vertical Shadows is really just an outlet for me to produce my own works with no constraints or limits. I have been very fortunate as most of the work I am offered choreographing musicals and operas are from producers and directors viewing my company.”
It sounds like that arrangement is working pretty well for Agisilaou who has had a busy start to 2014. “I just finished working on Blood Brothers The Musical and now it’s full steam ahead with The White Prince,” he reports. “I am also currently choreographing a play Teleny that opens in May and Cool Sonatas a music/theatre experience opening in September and touring nationally. I am in talks for a few other shows currently also.”
Given the diversity of Agisilaou’s work, it’s no surprise to learn that his work tends to blur the boundaries between dance and other artforms. “One thing Vertical Shadows is known for is our music and sound choices,” remarks Agisilaou. “I work my imagery from music and like to create from there. The White Prince dives into the imagination, and utilises visual mediums separate from the movement itself. It is performed in a space 30 metres deep by 25 metres wide and we really wanted to create a vast atmosphere to go with our intimate cast of five. We are privileged to have Damien Welch and Marc Cassidy former dancers of The Australian Ballet in this cast alongside Teagan Lowe from Sydney Dance Company. The White Prince isn’t so much a dance show as it is a visual experience.”
The White Prince opens at Arts House, Meat Market, May 17-24. For bookings and more info go to www.verticalshadows.com