QL2 Dance
Artistic Director:
Ruth Osborne
Choreographed by
Steve Gow, Olivia Fyfe, Alana Stenning and Ruth Osborne
Theatre 3 to 19
October
Reviewed by Len Power
18 October 2019
Always a show to look forward to each year, QL2 Dance’s “Chaos”
project - this year entitled “Power” - once again focussed on young and less
experienced dancers from age 8 to 19.
The project is an entry point to the unique programs offered at QL2
Dance and can also be a progression into the Quantum Leap youth dance
ensemble. This year’s performance
involved a team of 48 young dancers augmented with some senior Quantum Leap
dancers.
“Power” consists of seven sections that zero in on various
aspects of power in our lives. Artistic
director, Ruth Osborne, choreographed the opening and closing sections and the
other sections were choreographed by Steve Gow, Olivia Fyfe and Alana Stenning
who are youth programs alumni and are now teaching at QL2 as well as dancing
professionally in the Australian Dance Party.
The first section defines what power actually is. Subsequent sections show power in its
physically demanding sense, then the power of superheroes, an uprising against
the abuse of power, the power of a group to change the course of a story (and, therefore,
history) and empowerment for the good of everyone. The final section is a joyous celebration of
the power of being part of a group of performers. The show is presented in a continuous
performance moving seamlessly from one section to the next.
Highlights of the show included the startling and fun “And
I’m…”, choreographed by Alana Stenning, in which certain cast members transition
to become superheroes by gravely stepping into pairs of brief blue pants like
those worn by Superman.
Then there was the sheer physicality of “Uprising”,
choreographed by Steve Gow, with waves of dancers hurling themselves at
opposing forces. It was followed by an
imaginative and unexpectedly very funny “I Rule” fairy story, choreographed by
Olivia Fyfe and Alana Stenning, in which the cast gang up powerfully on the
narrator and refuse to accept the conventional happy-ever-after ending.
“Canis Canem Edit”, choreographed by Steve Gow, showcased the
power of team work with the senior dancers performing together superbly with
the young dancers. The closing section, “We
Are Powerful Together!”, choreographed by Ruth Osborne, was an appropriately
happy ending to the show.
The large cast performed with skill and energy
throughout. The choreographers set some
quite challenging moves for the group that were all handled with assurance and
accuracy. It must have been hard work
getting it all up to standard, but you can clearly see the joy of performance
in the participants’ faces. Once again,
this was an admirable, entertaining and memorable evening of dance.
This review was first
published in the Canberra City News digital edition of 19 October 2019
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.