West Australian Ballet is achieving something that most dance companies can only dream of doing this year. It is performing live. Genesis LIVE marks the first performance season to return in Australia because Western Australia is in the enviable position of being almost entirely Covid-free. It has just six active cases, all in hotel quarantine.
The performance is also strikingly different. It's raw and intimate, taking the audience out of the theatre and removing elaborate sets. Genesis LIVE's nine shows are presented safely within the West Australian Ballet Centre.
“Each year, Genesis gives our world-class dancers an opportunity to step to the other side of the studio and express themselves through choreography,” stated artistic director, Aurélien Scannella.
“This year more than ever, we’ve needed live performance to bring us enjoyment and transport us from the outside world. I congratulate our dancers on their beautiful, high quality works.”
The performance, which is traditionally a sell-out, features twelve short works from Claire Voss, Adam Alzaim, Matthew Lehmann, Christian Luck, Robert Bruist, Carina Roberts, Chihiro Nomura, Candice Adea, Emma Rose Barrowclough, Matej Perunicic, Polly Hilton and principal ballet mistress & artistic associate, Sandy Delasalle.
Works (in order of showing) are:
Tetrad Animato: Choreography & costumes by Carina Roberts
Witness the animation of music, as a string quartet comes to life through dance.
Polarity: Choreography & costumes by Robert Bruist
Polarity; the state of having two opposite or contradictory tendencies, opinions, or aspects.
Soul. Lagom: Choreography & costumes by Emma-Rose Barrowclough
“That which haunts me stems from within: a mind from which there is no escape.” [Anon]
A moment à memory: Choreographer & costumes by Chihiro Nomura
Inspired by the quote, "Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."
Uncommon: Choreographer & costumes by Matej Perunicic
An everyday person who goes through a metamorphosis to discover their uniqueness within.
A thousand times goodnight: Choreography & costumes by Claire Voss
“I truly love you. I know you also do. Wishing you a goodnight.” [Unknown]
Behind those Beautiful Eyes: Choreographer & costumes by Matthew Lehmann
A climatic dance for two, investigating the intricacies of love and conflict.
Where do I begin?: Choreography & costumes by Adam Alzaim
“You’re not a bad person. You’re a terrific person. You’re my favourite person, but every once a while, you can be a real....” [Quentin Tarantino]
Litrato: Choreography & costumes by Candice Adea
"It's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember."
Can’t fight this feeling: Choreography & costumes by Christian Luck
The struggles between who you are and who are you.
ALUMNA: Choreography & costumes by Polly Hilton
“There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad.” [George Orwell, 1984]
Just for Fun' Choreographer & costumes by Sandy Delasalle
Bringing back the Roaring ‘20s Gatsby style - with a French touch.
Genesis LIVE is closing on August 8. Tickets are available on the West Australian Ballet website.