Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA): “Shine” -
The Geoff Gibbs Theatre, 17 November -
With four short works and a mix of dance styles from traditional classical ballet to innovative contemporary Australian choreography, “Shine” featured second and third year WAAPA students who showed skill, panache and professionalism.
Fokine’s Les Sylphides, staged by Diana de Vos, confirmed that the WAAPA classical programme is going from strength to strength under the guidance of Kim McCarthy and his team. Michael Brett played the Chopin piano pieces admirably and the students rose to the occasion creating an enchanting romantic reverie against a beautifully designed painted backdrop, in soft, misty moonlight.
The ensemble danced with commendable unison and disciplined lines while, still in his second year, Liam Green, as the poet, showed maturity and elegance in his solo and strong, sensitive partnering in the pas de deux. Mia Thompson ("Waltz") danced with technical security and an ethereal, effortless elevation, Abigail Smith ("Prelude" and pas de deux) danced strongly, Mercie Taylor ("Mazurka") showed fluidity and grace, and lissome Rhianna Isard (Miseries) impressed throughout.
Providing a complete change of mood, Fugue is choreographed by Raewyn Hill and was first performed by Dance North at The State Theatre Melbourne in June 2012 as part of The Australian Ballet’s “Let’s Dance” program. It is inspired by Hill’s study of a ‘dancing plague’ in 1518 in Strasbourg, where men and women were said to have danced for days, some to their death.
Relentless and electric, Fugue is set to Ravel’s “Bolero”. Sixteen dancers (twice the number Hill was able to use in Melbourne) began the work kneeling en masse in formation, clad in re-designed black and gold bolero tops with epaulets, and black and gold harem-style pants. The work requires the dancers to remain in a tight group and move in unison, and the students maintained the unremitting rhythm as they powered through the piece with intensity and perfect unity, casting shadows on the back wall. The warmth of the evening and the glistening sweat of the dancers added to the compelling atmosphere. Gold fabric in the costumes glinted as the stage-lights brightened towards the climax of this riveting work. Among many excellent performers, Russell Thorpe shone.
Dancers from the Taipei National University of the Arts first performed Tanja Liedtke’s slight in Melbourne as part of the Australian Institute of Classical Dance’s 2006 “Dance Creation”. Restaged for the “Shine” program by Kristina Chan and set to a recorded soundtrack featuring Canadian musician/turntable-ist Kid Koala and French musician Colleen, slight was performed within black surrounds on a blue-lit stage. The light-hearted references to movements of abstract balletic sylphs were slightly subdued, knowing that the choreographer tragically lost her life in 2007.
The twelve dancers quivered and floated through slight's contrasting sharp, articulated shapes, quasi-classical steps and fluttering, plucking gestures. Annabel Saies, Toby Derrick and Linton Aberle were prominent and the entire group delivered fine performances in this memorable work by a uniquely talented young woman.
The program concluded with Michael Whaites’ Poem for an Ailing World. Created in 2011 for LINK Dance Company in response to environmental issues, and choreographed in collaboration with students, this work features inspired musical choices including Leonard Cohen, Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakam, St Germain, Vivaldi and Yagya.
Reproduced for “Shine” by Justin Rutzou, the movement is measured and flowing, with moments of stillness and classical influences as the dancing figures catch the light. Water is poured into a cupped hand and transferred tenderly to each member of the group. Plastic bags appear and are strewn over the stage and humorous touches and quirky music lighten the mood. Andre Bauer, Lily Roberts, Lara Hedgcock and Taiwanese exchange student Evan Zhan caught the eye and all eleven dancers performed with flair. The ideas start to become a little drawn out and confusing before the piece ends with an effective and low key finale to the uplifting sounds of Madeleine Peyroux in “Dance Me to the End of Love”.
The work of the WAAPA students throughout “Shine” was exemplary and it is not at all surprising that Nanette Hassall, Head of the Dance Department at WAAPA, was named winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Australian Dance Awards.
- Margaret Mercer
Photo: Jon Green