Dance of epic high quality, however tough symbolism

Dance / “Savage”, conceived, choreographed and directed by Daniel Riley. Canberra Theatre till September 30. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS.

THIS new work by Daniel Riley has attracted appreciable curiosity in Canberra dance circles. 

Riley began his dance profession with Quantum Leap, now QL2 Dance, earlier than forging a big profession as a dancer and choreographer with Bangarra Dance. Riley returns frequently to Canberra to hone his choreographic abilities creating works on QL2 Dance.

As his first main work for Australian Dance Theatre in Adelaide, an organization created in 1965 by his long-time mentor, Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, and for which he’s now inventive director, “Savage” is a crucial indicator of the route by which he’ll take this firm.

Riley has an agenda. As an indigenous choreographer, he feels compelled to make use of his present place to handle points regarding First Nations individuals and in a latest interview for this publication, he’s quoted as saying: “I’m the primary First Nations particular person to be a mainstream director of a dance firm, so I’ve the platform to ask these questions and I really feel enabled by it”.

In his program notes for “Savage” Riley says: “I used to be keen on exploring the conflict between energy and identification, and exposing how our hearts and minds have been captured within the battle of the Australian creativeness. 

“Heroes and foes on the mistaken facet of historical past; particulars of occasions usually remembered to go well with the victors… I need this work to encourage deeper considering and reflection on the techniques and voices who coerce our historical past to go well with a singular imaginative and prescient of our nation”. 

How these ambitions are realised on this up to date dance work is fascinating and confronting. 

Designer Dean Cross has created an imposing setting consisting primarily of two enormous fence-like constructions that may be moved across the stage in the course of the efficiency by the dancers. 

When the viewers enters the theatre these constructions are lined by a colorless plastic drape. Twenty-five fluorescent lights bathe the stage in a harsh white mild. On the ground in entrance of the stage is organized a row of stark white plastic chairs.

To the persistent throb of James Howard’s soundscape, a younger lady takes the stage. She strolls then sits, deep in contemplation. As the home lights dim, the viewers is bathed in scorching orange mild, which ultimately fades to black-out, setting the temper for what’s to observe.

Because the stage lights come up extra white chairs are revealed, and these chairs change into a relentless because the work progresses. They’re thrown angrily across the stage, moved in rows by the fences, stacked across the dancers to restrict them. 

Riley has gathered six fascinating dancers who kind the core of ADT –  Sebastian Geilings, Brianna Kell, Zachary Lopez, Jada Narkle, Darci O’Rourke and Joe Wazniak.  

For the Canberra performances, these dancers have been joined by eight dancers from QL2;  Arshiya Abhishree, Penny Moore, Akira Byrne, Mia Canton, Jahna Lugnan, Magnus Meagher, Danny Riley, Cassidy Thomson, and Julia Villaflor.  Riley himself additionally carried out.

The work has an epic high quality enormously enhanced by Matthew Adey’s placing lighting design and the grating soundscape created by Jason Howard. Ingenious use of the massive fence-like constructions to create corridors and obstacles, and the fixed re-arrangement of the white chairs created an countless circulation of placing stage footage.

Riley’s choreography is ingenious and fantastically carried out by his dancers costumed by Cross in particular person urban-punk costumes. Nonetheless a lot of the symbolism was tough to know, notably the inclusion of three white yeti-like figures.  

Whereas fascinating to observe, given the ambitions expressed, a lot of the enjoyment of the work was diluted by making an attempt to work out what the assorted episodes represented. Nonetheless, provided that one of many ambitions for the work was to encourage deeper considering, it definitely labored on that degree for this viewer.