Two Zero
QL2 Dance
Artistic Director:
Ruth Osborne
The Playhouse,
Canberra Theatre Centre to 11 August
Reviewed by Len Power
9 August 2018
QL2 Dance, which commenced as Quantum Leap in 1999, has
developed a national and international reputation in contemporary youth dance
practice. In 20 years, over 50 commissioned choreographers have worked
collaboratively with groups of Quantum Leapers to create 20 original contemporary
mainstage productions with original music.
This program at the Playhouse, ‘Two Zero’, is a celebration of
20 years of Quantum Leap – the dancers, choreographers and everyone associated
with the programs who make them happen. It takes a look back with excerpts from previous
works, acknowledging all of the young artists who have come before. The program also looks forward, presenting
new works from choreographers who are amongst Quantum Leap’s alumni.
In one continuous performance in eight sections
with different choreographers, three of
the sections have been remounted from past Quantum Leap projects.
It begins with a clever transition from film of the
original 2013 ensemble to the current ensemble who then perform a remounting of
‘Where We Gather’ by choreographer, Daniel Riley. Nicely remounted by Dean Cross, it explores
indigenous and non-indigenous people working together. Its theme was clearly and beautifully danced
by the ensemble, creating a vivid picture of harmony between people.
The other sections were notable in the imagination used by
the choreographers. While every section
was well staged with fine dancing by all involved, I particularly enjoyed ‘The
Living Sky’ which was originally choreographed by Fiona Malone and re-imagined for
this production by Alison Plevey and Ruth Osborne, and ‘Bigger’, a new work by
Eliza Sanders about women’s influence.
It was clever in its use of magnifying glass and the dancing had a particularly
striking lyrical and wistful quality.
The finale, ‘Celebrate’, was a showstopper. The enthusiasm and joy of these dancers was
infectious and when past alumni joined them onstage at the end, it was
especially exciting.
QL2 Dance’s annual mainstage productions are always great to
look forward to and this year’s celebration was the most memorable of all.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast in his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.