ON COURSE 2015
QL2 Dance
QL2 Theatre, Gorman
House to 13 December
Review by Len Power
12 December 2015
QL2’s annual ‘On Course’ event brings together current dance
students from tertiary institutions across Australia and New Zealand to choreograph,
collaborate and perform. This is always
an event to look forward to as the imagination and skill shown by these young
choreographers and dancers is quite enthralling. This year, 13 choreographers presented works. I believe they each have only about 18 hours
of studio time over a couple of weeks to develop and polish their work with the
QL2 dancers. If that is the case, the results
on show are all the more remarkable.
The program commenced with a choreographed film by Alanna
Stenning called ‘Soft Flux’ which explored the theme of heat and the various
reactions to it and the effects of it.
It was interesting from both dance and film editing angles, both of
which need a sense of rhythm so important to a choreographer’s work. Alanna’s film created a great atmosphere and
showcased her strong skills with this medium.
One of the great things about dance is that audience members
will respond differently to elements of particular dances and, while every item
in this program was enjoyable and well done, there were some that especially
appealed to me.
Jordan Bretherton’s ‘Defining Water’ was stunningly clear in
intent from the very beginning. A physical
piece relating emotions to the ebb and flow of water, it was nicely realized and
beautifully danced as well. Amanda Lee’s
solo dance, ‘You don’t have to pretend; You don’t need to pretend’, showcased
her excellent gymnastic skills as well as her strong dance skills. It was a moody piece that was very
satisfying.
‘Flow’ by Chloe Jane Hambleton paid strong attention to all
aspects of production from the dance itself to costumes, lighting and sound and
was very successful as a result. A
delightfully witty work, ‘All The Authors of Meaning’, by Maddy Towler-Lovell,
explored the difficulty in understanding what an artist means. It was funny, very precise in its movement
and timing and very well danced.
Ryan Douglas Stone showed especially strong skills in
creating atmosphere with his dance, ‘State’.
A sense of danger and the threat of violence pervaded this work and there
was excellent use of lighting and sound to complement the action. Holly Newsome presented a startling work, ‘This
Tan Is Real’ about sincerity, wanting to be loved and trying to be an ideal in
some shape or form. Her work required
great precision by her dancers and worked brilliantly.
This was a particularly strong program of imaginative, skilful
and entertaining dance works. I’m looking
forward already to next year’s program.
Len Power’s reviews can
also be heard on Artsound FM’s ‘Artcetera’ program from 9.00am on Saturdays.