 |
| Anna Hosking and Joshua Walsh in "Unveiled" |
Produced,
Directed and Choreographed by Bonnie Neate and Suzy Piani.
Erindale
Theatre. July 15th and 17th.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens.
Canberra is
fortunate to have many excellent dance schools which over the years have
produced dancers who have gone on to significant National and International
careers. For those dancers wishing to forge a professional career as a dancer,
the leap from dance school to a dance company or professional employment as a
dancer, usually requires that they leave Canberra to undertake further training
to bring them to professional level.
Enter Bonnie
Neate and Suzy Piani, two passionate professional dance educators, who having
observed the high calibre of the dancers being produced by local dance schools,
identified a need for a local transitional program.
With that in
mind they instituted this self-funded project for which they held open
auditions to select 20 young aspiring-professional dancers, aged
between 15 and 23 years from dance
schools around Canberra to work at professional level on an original
full-length contemporary work entitled “Unveiled”.
An inspired
deconstruction of the romantic classical ballet “Giselle”, “Unveiled”
incorporates none of the music or choreography from that ballet. Instead Neate and Piani have compiled a
superbly recorded soundtrack of contemporary and classical music and songs.
Eschewing
traditional scenery the work is presented on a bare stage enhanced by striking
lighting effects, with a huge screen providing a background for atmospheric
video images and shadows. .
Elegant,
sophisticated modern dancewear with only occasional references to the classical
inspirations of the piece focussed full attention on the meticulously groomed
dancers as they skilfully executed the demanding choreography with impressive
attention to mood, characterisation and detail.
The
choreography devised by Neate and Piani for this production is complex,
inventive and continually interesting, embracing classical, acrobatic and contemporary
dance elements. The brilliantly executed
ensemble sequences demanded and received precise, committed execution, bringing
to mind lavish Busby Berkeley extravaganzas, but cleverly incorporated in this
production for particular effect, as in an early sequence when Giselle and
Albrecht desperately maintain eye contact as the dancers swirl around them.
Anna Hosking
as Giselle already possesses a brilliant technique. Her beautiful line and
extraordinary extensions and flexibility are showcased in complex acrobatic
choreography for moody solos and expressive duets for which she is sensitively
partnered by Joshua Walsh as Albrecht.
As the only
male in the production Walsh partnered with distinction while evoking a charming
blokey characterisation which provided an excellent focal point for the ire of
the willis, led by Alice Collins as the Queen of Girlfriends past, when his
roving eye finally brings about his comeuppance.
 |
| Anna Hosking and Joshua Walsh in "Unveiled" |
Holly Hilder
as Albrecht’s jilted fiancé Bathilde, Sarah Duffy and Ali Mayes as Giselle’s friends,
Bertha and Hilaria, and Olivia Smith as the Temptress, all provided sharply
delineated characterisations which kept the storyline focussed throughout the
many cleverly choreographed and superbly executed ensemble sequences.
Delightfully entertaining as well as brilliantly choreographed and performed, “Unveiled” provides a compelling argument for the benefits of pre-professional training. One hopes that it is seen by decision makers who could provide the funding to make a reality of the ambition of Bonnie Neate and Suzy Piani to provide talented Canberra dancers with such a resource.
Photos by ES Fotografi
This review first published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on 17.07.21.
