West Australian Ballet in Neon Lights

This was great .The WA Ballet dancers are fabulous  
http://www.sydneyartsguide.com/View-Review.asp?ReviewID=1270

NEON LIGHTS at the Sydney Theatre From the opening phrases of music and movement in the first work,’ Un Ballon‘, choreographed by Jiri Kylian, one notices the sensational quality of the dancing from the company , in particular a soft ‘ ballon ‘ , incredible jumps and a marvelous ‘line’. Kylian’s Un Ballon (1991) was originally choreographed for NDT11. It is dominated by a huge tilted square rig of candles as if in an eighteenth century theatre. There is no plot as such – Kylian considers it ‘an exercise in musicality and sensitivity between male and female partners’ - an excuse, if one was necessary, for glorious dancing. The cast of three main couples and four other pairs are all in black costumes . The choreography is at times lush, lyrical and romantic with fluid angular arms. Some of it is quite sculptural. At one point much use is made visually of the bell like formation of the upended women’s skirts. The opening pas de deux was a knockout .         ‘Strings’ by outgoing artistic director Ivan Cavallari featured the magnificent playing of guest violinist Madeline Antoine. The ‘strings’ of the title are the violin strings perhaps, also the heart strings that bind us together. Another ‘string ‘was the line-up of the dancers at the beginning, introducing themselves. Strings are also a visual theme as strings are stretched across the stage by the dancers, jumped over, held , snapped, tugged and released .There are some repeated phrases of movement and at times the choreography was reminiscent of Bejart’s style There are some wonderful solos and pas de deux complimented by some great sculptural ensemble work. It had a spectacular entrance by Antoine in a ‘balloon’ dress and ended on a romantic tone, in a garden at night, with the dancers holding balloons.     ‘Lickety Split’ choreographed by Alejandro Cerrudo had a tender, joyous mood. It was mostly a series of small vignettes of flowing short dazzling solos, in particular one by David Mack , pas de deux (or more) about love and developing relationships. Touch and gesture were important .There was lots of sliding and expressive use of the back and the partnering was excellent. The women wore orangey/apricot coloured dresses and the men wore  dark suits. Set to the music of Devendra Banhart, the dancing was abstract yet had a rather gentle , tender, joyous and loving mood .   And then for something completely different …. After interval came Gary Stewarts’s ‘The Centre and its Opposite’. The audience was sharply divided into fans or those who didn’t like it, thrown totally out of its comfort zone with this jarring, abstract work which in some ways was similar to Forsythe or Wheeldon pieces . Stewart took pure abstract dance, using ballet as its core, but has deconstructed and reworked it. There is no emotion, no interaction with the audience. Stewart’s choreography demands a clean, sizzling line, emphatic turn out and a very flexible back .There were lots of pirouettes (mostly supported) , balances into arabesque as well as a use of a deep plie. There’s also an unusual use of weight, balance and being dragged across the stage. Huey Benjamin’s jarring, crashing, pulsating score fights Stewarts’ choreography for dominance. The harsh, flickering and almost blinding cage or strip like banks of neon lights emphasize the dancers in their grey costumes.       Here were four short works that showcase the superlative dancing of this amazing company. We so rarely get to see them, all the way from Perth, and this was a real treat. This is the first time in their sixty year history that this Company has performed in the Sydney CBD main-stage area– something in itself to celebrate! Catch the amazing dancing of the West Australian Ballet in NEON LIGHTS, running time just under two hours including one interval, playing at the Sydney Theatre, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay between the 17th and the 20th October, 2012. © Lynne Lancaster 19th October, 2012 Tags: Sydney Stage Reviews- NEON LIGHTS,  West Australian Ballet Company, Sydney Arts Guide, Lynne Lancaster