Presented by QL2
Dance
Ruth Osborne,
Artistic Director
Canberra Theatre
Centre to July 29
Reviewed by Len Power
27 July 2017
With ‘This Poisoned Sea’, QL2 Dance has brought together
four choreographers to create a full-length work that is thoughtful in its
intent and electrifying and entertaining in its execution.
The thirty young dancers in the ensemble are aged 13 to 19. Most are from Canberra and surrounding
regions and there are four visiting dancers from Perth, Western Australia. Of the choreographers, Claudia Alessi is from
Western Australia and Jack Ziesing and Eliza Sanders are QL2 alumni. Ruth Osborne, the Artistic Director of QL2,
has also choreographed some of this work.
Taking the poem ‘The Rime Of the Ancient Mariner’ by Samuel
Taylor Coleridge as the basis for the work, the ensemble explores humanity’s
instinctual destructive nature and shows the impact of our selfishness on one
of our most important natural resources, the sea. Beginning on film with magnificent vistas of
the sea and dramatic coastline, the dance reflects the beauty of the ocean and
its magnificent creatures. As the dance
progresses, the beauty becomes increasingly spoiled by pollution, impacting heavily
on the aquatic life that struggles to survive.
Finally, with education, there is a realization that we can work on
reversing the problem and the show ends with optimism and a warning not to be complacent.
This is QL2 Dance’s most cohesive full length show yet. Its strong underlying storyline gives it a
dramatic arc that is very satisfying. The
choreography throughout is clear in its intent, dramatic and often dreamlike, and
always beautiful to watch. The dancers attack
the work with enthusiasm and perform with a discipline and preciseness over a
continuous seventy minute running time that is awe-inspiring.
The other elements of the show add considerably to its
success. Music composer, Adam Ventoura,
has provided an eerie and atmospheric score with driving rhythms that give the
show an epic grandeur. The lighting
design by Mark Dyson is especially fine for this show, enhancing the
choreographer’s work with subtle variations. The video by Wild Bear Entertainment is
constantly fascinating and melds nicely with the work on stage. The marine-themed costumes by Cate Clelland
are attractive and practical.
It’s exciting to watch the young performers in this company producing
work of such high quality and entertainment value. I really enjoyed it.
Photographs by Lorna Sim Photography
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7’s ‘Artcetera’ program (9.00am Saturdays)
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