 |
| Tyrel Dulvarie as West Wind in "Unaipon" |
Choreographed by Frances Rings, Jiri Kylian and
Stephen Page for Bangarra Dance Theatre.
Canberra Theatre 18th – 20th
July
Reviewed by Bill Stephens
There is a compelling sense of spirituality and
mission that separates the work of Bangarra Dance Theatre from other dance
companies. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the exquisite final
sequence of the Frances Ring work “Unaipon” in which the whole company performs
to the haunting “Miserere”. Entitled “Religion” it is but one of many
highlights in this outstanding program which celebrates the 30 years of
existence in which Bangarra Dance Theatre, under the clear-eyed stewardship of
Stephen Page, has established itself as a world leader in indigenous dance.
Canberra is only the second city to see “30 Years of
Sixty Five Thousand” following its inaugural five-week season in the Sydney
Opera House, after which it will be presented in every Australian Capital City.
The program consists of three individual works. Frances
Ring’s “Unaipon”, originally created for the company in 2004, is a perfect
example of the work for which Bangarra is justly celebrated.
Stunningly
costumed by Jennifer Irwin, an evocative set design by Peter England, and
gorgeously lit by Nick Schlieper, “Unaipon” consists of a number of visually
arresting sequences inspired by the studies of aboriginal inventor, philosopher
and storyteller, David Unaipon, whose image is featured on the $50.00 note.
Each sequence is a visual feast. In “Sister Baskets” bare legs protrude unexpectedly from under woven baskets. Young men perform intricate patterns with strings in “String Game”. Bodies collide and bounce off each other in “Motion”, and superbly costumed dancers represent the "Four winds", among which Tyrel Delvarie in an amazing costume fashioned from long reeds as the West Wind, is a standout.
Each sequence is a visual feast. In “Sister Baskets” bare legs protrude unexpectedly from under woven baskets. Young men perform intricate patterns with strings in “String Game”. Bodies collide and bounce off each other in “Motion”, and superbly costumed dancers represent the "Four winds", among which Tyrel Delvarie in an amazing costume fashioned from long reeds as the West Wind, is a standout.
 |
| Tyrel Dulvarie - Rika Hamaguchi in "To Make Fire" |
Similarly the final work in the program “To Make Fire” also consists of a series of favourite sequences drawn from three of Bangarra’s previous programs, “Mathinna”, “About” and “Clan”, and cleverly reworked by Stephen Page as a compelling stand-alone showcase. Particularly memorable among many highlights was a dramatic trio from “Mathinna” entitled “Adoption” powerfully danced by Lillian Banks, Rikki Mason and Tara Gower.
 |
| Tara Gower - Rikki Mason - Lillian Banks in "Adoption" |
Perhaps the most intriguing work in this program is
the one which wasn’t built on the company, Jiri Kylian’s “Stamping Ground”
which was preceded by a short film that included images of an extraordinary
corroboree which inspired the work, and the comment from Kylian that he had
carefully avoided copying any of the dancer’s movements, but only their
inspiration.
 |
| Ryan Pearson - Tyrel Dulvarie - Ella Havelka - "Stamping Ground" |
Kylian’s idiosyncratic movement palette, impressively danced with meticulous attention to detail, by Tara Gower, Baden Hitchcock, Rika Hamaguchi, Ella Havelka, Tyrel Dulvarie and Rikki Mason, at first surprised, then delighted at the realization that Kylian’s particular inspiration may have been the more larrikin dancers in the throng, prompted bursts of laughter among the audience at the delightful larrikin twinkle in the animal shapes and cheeky combinations which bought a welcome injection of humour to this inspiring program.
Photos by Daniel Boud
This review first published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on 19.07.19