EXQUISITE TREASURE MUST BE SEEN |
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) Choreographer: Ann Dewey Composer: John Gibson Music artist: David Kilgour SPINNING SUN at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre: TAPAC, Auckland From 6 Mar 2008 to 9 Mar 2008 Reviewed by Felicity Molloy, 7 Mar 2008 |
Going to a dance show choreographed by Ann Dewey with her now distinctive, and I imagine fairly collaborative, artistic ensemble is a bit like going to dinner with a group of old friends. Doesn't happen enough but when it does it really is memorable and very, very satisfying.
Dewey is a pure artist; her work describes the rich complex mix of stories of a lived-in life: imagination at full play. Flicker is peopled by four excellent dancers but actually they become more like threads and seams; insects, landscapes, constellations, light, play versions of a more dreamlike tapestry.
The sound score is awesome. John Gibson, master of choreographic music in this country, together with David Kilgour, weaves a reverberate sound into the light and also people through distinctive instrumental and rhythmic voices, key to a danced connection of family, memory and friends. He leads us often through an enchanted, ancient tunnel. I kept feeling like I was under a Central Otago sky as a child, alone and never lonely. The rush of vastness I felt there was present in this spacious, thoughtful choreography.
The dancers have been hand picked. Gracious elegance and occasional tremulous passion is controlled and exhibited by Liz Kirk. There was never enough of her - she was like the integral silk thread but she kept disappearing and I would watch her seated on the side of stage just to soak her presence.
The other dancers are younger and their virtuosic counter play is sometimes like a question mark. Julie van Renen takes on choreography and rips it into her body. She and the other two dancers, Zoe Watkins and Sophie Ryan are so attuned to the movement that their bodies leave trails, enhanced but not overpowered by an inventive uses of light.
Flicker is an exquisite treasure and must be seen.
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Jack Gray