Artistic Director:
Ruth Osborne
QL2 Theatre, Gorman
Arts Centre to 24 November
Reviewed by Len Power
23 November 2019
As each year draws to a close, one of the highlights of this
time of year is QL2 Dance’s annual "Hot To Trot" evening of dance. Presenting a set of new short contemporary
dance works, it’s an opportunity for young dancers from QL2’s Quantum Leap
ensemble to try their choreographic wings for the first time.
According to artistic director, Ruth Osborne, “Hot to Trot
is an important starting point in the development of choreographic practice and
leadership potential. They are working hard to create meaningful contemporary
dance — beyond just doing moves or steps to music, and really engaging some of
the processes they have been part of when they have been in our Quantum Leap
project. The content will be all their own.”
This year, seven works were on show – five live dance works
and two on film.
The first item was a filmed dance called “Lens”, produced
and choreographed by Hollie Knowles. An
exploration of how we perceive dance is changed through film, it was a clever
work marrying dance with filmic techniques.
Particularly exciting were the camera tracking shots that gave the
disorienting effect of the room moving around the dancers.
A second film followed called “We’ll See How Long That Lasts”,
produced and choreographed by Christopher Wade.
Focussing on the contrast between the joy of dancing and the negativity
often encountered by young male dancers from their peers, it was a sensitive
and perceptive work very nicely realized.
“Decisions” was performed live by Penny Amoore and Danny
Riley who also choreographed the work.
Essentially about decisions and how we make them, it was an emotionally
charged work with a lot to say about how our decisions affect each other. Its intention was clear and very well danced.
Sarah Long’s “Citrus Limon” was a clever and amusing concept
about the existence of things – an object, idea or thought. The use of music in this work was especially
striking, especially the Gershwin piece.
Well-danced throughout, the very funny finale was a delight.
“Outside The Box”, choreographed by Danny Riley was an
energetic and imaginative work about career choice and stepping outside your
comfort zone. This work demanded strong
trust in each other by the dancers who performed it very well right up to its
clever ending.
Amalia Socha and Ela Parsons choreographed and danced a work
called “Behind the Rack”. Exploring both
sides of the fashion industry – the glamour of wearing beautiful clothes and
the sweatshop worker who makes them, this work had a strong narrative and was
finely danced, making its point very clearly.
The final work presented, “Bus Stop”, was choreographed by
Jeff Chudleigh and focussed on the different types of people who wait at bus
stops. It was a colourful and enjoyable work,
amusing and cleverly chaotic.
The dancers in all of the works presented performed with
confidence and skill. There were moments
of great beauty and the performers enjoyment of the dance was plain to see. The music choices for the dances added a lot
to the atmosphere.
This was a memorable and exciting evening of dance by Canberra’s
up and coming choreographers. I look
forward to next year’s show!
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.