Short + Sweet Dance - the Gala

but wait there's more... here's what I thought of the gala final http://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/short-and-sweet-dance-gala-final/#more-4464 This was the culmination of two very exciting weeks and four companies with some extraordinary performances, the selection of this year’s best and audience favourites. For some reason at the matinee I attended two works listed were not performed. There was a range of styles and rhythms and some of the works were sensational. All the pieces were contemporary in style. Most of the performers were quite young and their ability varied widely. Each performer’s capability was acknowledged, stretched and challenged. I have commented on most of the works featured already so just to mention a few: Joseph Simons excellent ‘Familiar Strangers’ opened the program. This was a sharp, incisive , terrific performance. ‘And then patterns’, choreographed by Kirsty Formholtz, included some fascinating lighting. The opening music pulsated and throbbed and included flute. Drumbeat and guitar were emphasized the middle section. Choreographically it included ‘Tutting’, repeated phrases of movement and yawns. The piece featured card playing and seemed to be about the group vs the outsider. The marvellous ‘Jaybird’ thrilled as previously, although this time I noticed perhaps a more Forsythe style influence . It was great to see the wonderful arms and interlocking movements of ‘No Fungus No Tree’ again. ‘Nyunga’ with its Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander influence used its unison work and demanded a tight stretched long line most effectively to its crashing, repetitive , eerie score. The weird but wonderful and darkly ironic ‘Sink or Swim’ choreographed by Ntalie Pelarek took the audience to interval. The chilling, somewhat disturbing ‘Girl Getting Bitter’ opened the second half with a sizzling performance. Amber McCartney in ‘ Hard Boiled Wonderland ‘reminded me of an avatar in her astonishing , angry solo of ‘ locking and popping’ .She had exceptional feet and a laser like use of leg and was seemingly boneless , using isolation and /or robotic like movements at times and she had an incredible, very flexible back. ‘Salt’ was as captivating as last time I saw it with its Butoh like influence. Rochelle Carmichael’s ‘Out of No Thing’ with the dancers inky like brushstrokes, swirling movements and unusual lifts which felt sharp and threatening. ‘No I would never’, choreographed by Hayley Raw, featured sizzling jumps and excellent control in a terrific use of ‘line And the exuberant huge cast of ‘Swingdancin’’ choreographed by Natasha Crane joyously completed the show. The Gala performance of Short +Sweet Dance 2014 was held at the New Theatre, King Street Newtown on the 2nd February. A swag of awards were presented at the end of the night by joint Artistic Directors of the Dance Festival, Josh Lowe and Adam Wheeler:- Outstanding Choreography- Sean Marcs and Anna Healey for creating and performing No Fungus, No Tree - exploring the world of the symbiotic; and Brianna Kell and Alexandra Andrews for creating and performing Salt - an inspired investigation. The People’s Choice Award- Swing Dancin’ – Natasha Crane’s infectious and quirky mix of styles performed by 25 artists, Award for Audacious Work- Eva Crainean for Girl Getting Bitter - a comical, sexy and vengeful piece commenting on serious social issues and the femme fatale stereotype. Outstanding Female Dancer-shared-Amber McCartney for Hard-Boiled Wonderland - a movement study inspired by the work of Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami; and Rosslyn Wythes for /Lu:p-/ – inspired by entrances, exits and the cyclical process where, within each loop, different information is revealed. Outstanding Male Dancer- Harrison Hall for his solo work Melekh - “casting a shadow of light from within the darkness”. At least four of these works will appear in the glittering, Short+Sweet Gala Variety Show Saturday 22 March at the Seymour Centre York Theatre, when the best of Short+Sweet Dance, Theatre and Cabaret festivals will be showcased in the first ever combined season finale. For more information and bookings visit the Short and Sweet’s officicial website- www.shortandsweet.org