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| Patrick Harding Irmer performing "Pearl" |
Directed by Liz Lea for the BOLD 2022.
QL2 Dance
Studio, Gorman Arts Centre. 5th March 2022.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens.
Acting as a
bookend to “Goddess” which showcased women in dance, “A Bold Mix” offered an
eclectic selection of short dance works performed by male dancers both in
person and on film.
Providing a thread between the two programs, the first work “In Situ”, choreographed by Ryuichi Fujimura was performed with light-hearted panache by Christopher Wade, a recent graduate of Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Sydney and a member of the Future Makers Collective. Three excerpts from “In Situ” were featured in “Goddess” so this work, together those shown during “Goddess” provided not only an engaging curtain raiser, but also an interesting insight into the work being produced by DCM.
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| Danny Riley performing "Similar, Same but Different" |
It was a
particular pleasure to revisit a little masterpiece entitled “Similar, Same but
Different”. Given a charismatic performance by Danny Riley, this work is based
on a piece, choreographed by Ruth Osborne for Riley’s brother, Jack Riley to
perform at the ‘Elvis at 21’ exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Mirroring his brother’s image, captured on
film in performance at the NPG and projected on to the wall behind him, and
using the same bright red chair and white tuxedo, dancing to a recording of
Elvis Presley singing “Love Me Tender” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight”, Danny
Riley performed the athletic choreography with a calm assurance that was sweetly
captivating and quite moving.
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| Ryuichi Fufimura performing "How did I get Here". |
Sydney dance
artist, Ryuichi Fujimura’s mesmerising work, “How did I get Here”, which he
began by crossing the floor, martini in hand, in agonisingly slow motion,
demanded and received astonishing muscular control, as did a later work, “All
Blank Wasteland”, performed by Jason Pearce and Jazmyn Carter in vivid blue
smocks and masks to transport the audience into an otherworldly landscape.
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| Logan Ganas and Bailey Wyatt performing "Jkix" |
Wearing
matching costumes decorated with flying buckles, Logan Ganas and Bailey Wyatt
bought a cheerful nonchalance to their piece, “Jkix” which belied the
complexity of the street-dance choreography. Similarly, Ghanaian dancer, Lucky
Lartey, charmed his audience with his performance of “Full Circle” which he
commenced wearing a crisp white costume, which he exchanged for black gym wear
as the piece progressed.
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| Lucky Lartey performing "Full Circle" |
Several
excellent short films separated the in-person items. Among them, a personal
favourite, “Naturally Urban” depicting local dancers, Danny Riley, Cassidy
Thomson and John Rudd filmed happily dancing their way through a number of
iconic Canberra locations; a music video “The Harry Morrissey Official – Bussy”
featuring Melbourne based drag queen Harry Morrissey; “Uath Lochans”, a dream-like reverie, filmed in Scotland,
featuring disabled dance artist, Marc
Brew; and “Generate” a work choreographed by Liz Lea, performed by dancers from
Maya Dance Theatre, Subastian Tan and
Shahrin Johry.
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| Patrick Harding Irmer performing "Pearl" |
Supported by
excellent lighting and stage management
this satisfying and memorable evening of contemporary dance was brought
to a climax by an unforgettable performance by dance legend, Patrick Harding
Irmer, who distilled a life-time of dance practice into an elegiac
demonstration of how even the tiniest movement can have meaning with his solo,
“Pearl”, a dance about absence.
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| Jason Pearce and Jazmyn Carter perorming "All Blank Wasteland" |
All photos by Lorna Sim.