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| Alana Stenning, Ryan Stone, Olivia Fyffe performing "From the Vault" |
Choreographed
by Alison Plevey - Costumes designed by Imogen Keen
Lighting Design by Mark Dyson - Music by Alex Voorhoeve
Sound design by Andy McMillan
Presented by Australian Dance Party
Diary Road,
Canberra 20th to 22nd September.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Australian
Dance Party, under the leadership of Alison Plevey, has established quite a
following for its site-specific dance works highlighting matters of social
conscience. The discovery of a dis-used building in Fyshwick which had
previously been a storage bunker for the Mint, prompted choreographer, Alison Plevey, to question the
value placed on money, the place of money in our lives, and indeed how our
bodies become the vaults for the storage of memories, motivations, and whatever
it is that constitutes us. The result is an intriguing, thoughtful and
brilliantly executed dance work.
The set up
for “In the Vault” is masterly. The location of the vault was kept secret from
the audience until the day before the first performance, when ticket holders
were notified of the location by email. Upon arrival, each was presented with a
key and directed to a dimly lit locked door, where a silent guard, wearing dark
glasses, examined the key before allowing the bearer to use it to unlock the
door.
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| Artists of Australian Dance Party performing "From the Vault" |
Once inside
the cavernous building, red laser lights pierced the blue lit haze, revealing a
large square performance area surrounded by chairs on each side, and guarded by
silent, unsmiling figures all wearing dark glasses. A strange electronic buzz
provided the soundscape. The atmosphere was
as un-nerving as it was intriguing.
A dramatic
bolt of light signalled the beginning of the performance, revealing the five
dancers huddled in a tight group centre- stage. Olivia Fyfe, Stephen Gow, Eliza
Sanders, Alana Stenning and Ryan Stone, performed a series of abstract
sequences, most having a connection with money. Each wore an attractive individual
costume, designed by Imogene Keen, a combination of post-apocalyptic and shabby
chic, but with metallic highlights which flashed in the light as the dancers
moved.
For the
first sequence they huddled in a tight group, responding to the pounding soundscape,
performed live by cellist, Alex Voorhoeve and sound designer, Andy McMillan.
When one tried to escape the group, the others menaced him. Coins showered from above which were quickly
gathered by the dancers, who then used them to gamble their new found wealth.
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| "From the Vault" - Stephen Gow (Centre) |
One sequence
involved a cleverly choreographed Mozartian style court dance. Another involved four of the dancers using
chalk to scribble their thoughts around the stage, eventually covering the
whole area, while the other verbalised hers in a stream of consciousness
monologue. Eventually the writings were obliterated with brilliantly performed acrobatic
group movements.
Regardless
of what response is prompted in individual observers as to the relevance of
each sequence, “In the Vault” is a brilliantly conceived and executed dance
work, certainly the best yet from Australian Dance Party and confirms Alison
Plevey’s status as an important and original creative voice in Australian
contemporary dance.
This review first published in CITY NEWS on 21.09.19