2 One Another is about the experience of connecting and disconnecting and for Adelaide audiences this is our first time at making such a connection with the Sydney Dance Company since 2009. If for no other reason than for seeing how top notch contemporary dance production is done, one can only hope it happens rather more regularly than every four years.
Rafael Bonachela’s artistic direction takes us through isolation as a curse and a strength, the joys and lows of interacting with another and the buzz and desolation that can come from crowd involvements. But throughout the beauty of the human form is the supreme connection he makes with the audience.
In four sections, the dancers perform the first three in a grey/blue costumes before the last, Planescapes, takes us into a new dawn of post box reds, led rhythmically and compellingly by Andrew Crawford and Juliette Barton.
Many contemporary dance companies seek to create an edge through a high emphasis around the music or lighting, often overreaching and shadowing the focus of dance. Bonachela’s work is as near perfect in its combination of all stage elements as can be seen. Nick Wales’ music score spans classical, baroque and techno but never over- imposes itself. The stage lighting of Ben Cisterne is subtle, almost understated but highly effective and Tony Assness’ digital backdrop screen nicely complements the movements ahead of it, especially in those times when it morphs from a creased and crumpled sheet to an expanding vision of colour.
While the last section brought warmth and comfort to the senses, the highlight for this reviewer were the last movements of the third section, the Dark Half, that through the combination of climaxing music and dance that pushed the limits, the joy of company and this Company was heartily communicated.
Kryztoff Rating 4.5K
Recent Comments