Sydney Opera House, as part of Spring Dance
August 22 2012

By Linda Badger.

This is the kind of show you only get to experience once in a very long while, and it makes so many other things you have seen pale in comparison.

World renowned Belgian choreographer and contemporary dancer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui has teamed up with equally renowned Flamenco dancer María Pagés to create Dunas, making this Cherkaoui’s third work for the Spring Dance festival.

I was first introduced to Pagés work when she was the headline flamenco dancer in the original cast of Riverdance, the Irish/European cultural dance sensation of the 90’s. The passion she conveys in this most recent work, and her belief in what she brings as an artist, imprinted much on the audience.  What a privilege to see her perform live!  Both Pagés and Cherkaoui are so seasoned and so comfortable within their art form. They are one with their art, not self-conscious or necessarily overtly aware of the audience. Their style is unique to those who have gathered, journeyed, lived and practiced their art beyond perfecting steps, many, many times over.  We were absorbed into their world.  Dare I say that THIS is why we dance. They brought meaning to it beyond the steps.  Watching a performance like this, you become immersed in the story, not just the teller and how correct their telling is.  Captivating and thought provoking, the work posed many questions.

The contemporary/flamenco fusion was the perfect collaboration for this project, exploring on the surface the shifting of sand dunes, but under the surface, asking so many questions about life; war, religion, politics -all the big topics.  The work artistically embodied a profound poignancy in their approach to their subject matter.  It was not overly pointed but made the audience come to its own conclusions.  One of the most refreshing things about this work was that even though it was quite ‘scenic’ with definite sections, the transitions were smooth and each part completed the other. Everything was necessary, and, although not all fully revealed in the beginning, it was woven together in such a way that every part made sense or seemed a part of the big picture in the end – the trademark of a truly creative storyteller.

Production wise it was fairly simple. Both performers made several costume changes with Pagés showcasing several beautifully hand dyed dresses by the talented María Calderón. The set, mainly consisting of fabric that acted as a cyclorama and props, was manipulated many times over to accommodate shadow puppetry.

The original score by Szymon Brzoska and Rubén Lebaniegos added that final touch. As with all traditional flamenco dance, the music was entirely live. The musicians were a constant presence on the stage and as equally relevant to the performance as the dancers.  Traditional Spanish musicians Barbara Drazkowska (piano),  Ana Ramón (cante), El Arabi-Serghini (voz arabe), Fyty Carrillo (guitarra), David Moñiz (violín) and Chema Uriarte (percusión) made a very special ensemble. The music was at one with the dance. Spanish music has such a raw and emotively expressive voice that you can almost tell what they are communicating, making the language barrier a non-issue.

It is hard to write about a piece like this, reducing it to just words on a page. To truly gain an understanding of what this piece is, you must see it.  If you are ever in a city where it is showing, make it a priority. It will be worth it.

Photo by Jess Bialek

Capitol Theatre, Sydney
March 2011 

By Jessica Innes

After it’s mind-blowing debut 17 years ago, Riverdance has stood the test of time and it’s exuberant performers continue to boast an inexorable spring in their step! Starting out as an interval act at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, the relatively unchanged show has become an iconic representation of Irish culture and a worldwide phenomenon. Australian audiences can now embark on a joyous and whimsical journey to the other side of the world as Riverdance brings with it Ireland’s most talented dancers as well as performers from Spain, Great Britain and the USA.

The Gaelic lyrics ‘Rí rá agus ruaille buaille’ can be translated to ‘noise and commotion’, which serves as a forewarning to the thunderous machine gun footwork that the Riverdance ensemble unleashes on the crowd. With incredible precision, the dancers open the show dressed in sparkling emerald green in ‘Reel Around the Sun’. The celebratory opening number sets the tone for the rest of the show and highlights the importance of nature in the retelling of the historic story of the Irish migration to America.

Interwoven between the frenzied footwork, the Riverdance Band keeps the energy up with equally vibrant performances using traditional instruments including the fiddle, saxophone, Uilleann pipes and drums. In contrast, the vocal work of the Riverdance Singers echoes throughout Sydney’s Capitol theatre with a purity and fragility that is hauntingly beautiful.

Although there are four different styles of Irish dance, Riverdance has made hard shoe Irish step dancing famous as it’s primary style. Drawing attention to their precise footwork, the dancers’ arms remain firmly by their sides, heeding to ancient Catholic attitudes where the dancers can’t interact with one another. However, Riverdance proves that it is anything but outdated with it’s flirtatious young lead, Padriac Moyles, tantalizing the audience with his expressive performances. The juxtaposition between new and old was brilliantly showcased in Scene Twelve ‘Harbour of the New World’ as the male Step Dancers competed in a “tap off” against the effortlessly cool Riverdance Tappers. The audience cries of disbelief at the sheer intricacy and speed of Moyle’s footwork showed us why Riverdance has so successfully sky-rocketed Irish dance’s popularity and its relevance in today’s society. Moyle vocalized his joy of dance by whooping and laughing as he performed and displayed star quality as he follows in the (very fast) footsteps of Michael Flatley, who still holds the world record for achieving 28 taps per second.

Broadening it’s horizons, the show also displays two smouldering performances by Spain’s Rocio Montoya. The Flamenco dancer overtly breaks the rules regarding on stage fraternization, displaying a strong feminine prowess as she stamps around five male dancers and herds them around the stage.

As the moon rises on the final dance number the dancers portray elfin characteristics with their long hair, floaty costumes and incredible agility as if inspired by a J.R. Tolkein novel. Riverdance embraces the fantasy of Irish folklore and the themes of magic and nature interlaced throughout the entire show will enthrall adults and children alike. Moving in perfect unison, the performers continued dancing well after their bows and showed no sign of fatigue; instead they beamed with satisfaction and pride. This tenacity is what has enchanted audiences for the past 17 years and is what makes Riverdance the timeless masterpiece it is today.

Photo: Jack Hartin, Copyright Abhann Productions

Win Tickets!

Win 1 of 5 Double Passes to see Riverdance!
Sydney on Opening Night Friday March 18, 8pm.
and Brisbane on Opening Night Tuesday April 12, 7:30pm.
Riverdance focuses on the evolution of Irish dance, capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures. It draws on Irish traditions and combines the richness of the music with the magic and sensuality of the dance. 
For more information visit www.riverdance.com.au

Dance Informa has Double Passes to giveaway for Suite Synergy by Mod Dance Company in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth!
Mod Dance Company is a new Australian contemporary dance company, launching its first national tour, Suite Synergy, in Melbourne this March. Suite Synergy is a dynamic creation by Australian dance icon and Chief Patron of Mod Dance Company, Graeme Murphy and is inspired by two of his most popular and critically acclaimed productions from the 1990s, Synergy with Synergy and Free Radicals. The first contemporary dance piece to be produced by Murphy in four years, Suite Synergy will feature eighteen exceptionally talented young dancers, accompanied by a pulsating percussion score performed live by four musicians.

Suite Synergy will be performed in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Darwin, Gold Coast and Adelaide. 
For full tour information visit www.suitesynergy.com.au

HOW TO ENTER:
Suggest Dance Informa to 3 friends and you could WIN!

Just Email Dance Informa at info@danceinforma.com with:
 - Your full name, date of birth and address
-  Subject:  ’Riverdance’ or ‘Suite Synergy’
-  PLUS the email addresses of 3 dance friends.

Your friends will be given a free subscription to Dance Informa. If your friends would not like a free subscription they can unsubscribe at anytime by emailing info@danceinforma.com with subject: UNSUBSCRIBE

NSW Permit Number : LTPM/10/00971CLASS: Type B
Competition opens on Feb 1 2011 for Riverdance tickets. Competition closes on March 3 for Riverdance tickets. Winners will be selected at random on March 3 at 5:00pm EST and notified by email. Competition opens on March 1 2011 for Mod Dance Company tickets. Competition closes on March 15 for Mod Dance Company tickets. Winners will be selected at random on March 15 at 5:00pm EST and notified by email. All entrants must provide an email address, a postal address, full name, date of birth and prize request with three friend’s email addresses. Friends will be given a free subscription to Dance Informa magazine, which they can unsubscribe from at anytime. All entrants who are not a subscriber to Dance Informa will be given a free subscription. All subscribers can unsubscribe at anytime by emailing info@danceinforma.com with subject: UNSUBSCRIBE. Minimum entry age is 13 years of age. Prizes will be drawn at Mitchell Ave, Highbury SA. Tickets will be held at the door for the winners. Winners will be published at www.danceinforma.com after they are announced. If not all prizes are claimed, a Second Chance Draw will be held.  This competition is held by Dance Informa Pty Ltd of SA. Phone 1300 783 120.

Riverdance Photo: Joan Marcus