Presented by
Liz Lea and Alison Plevey
Courtyard
Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre.
6th
and 7th May 2017.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
 |
| Alison Plevey and Liz Lea |
Two of
Canberra’s most prolific and original dance-makers, Liz Lea and Alison Plevey,
pooled resources to present this fascinating program as a finale to Ausdance
ACT Dance Week. The program consisted mainly of individual solos danced by Lea
and Plevey together with a preview of a new work choreographed by Jack Ziesing
for “This Poisoned Sea”, a QL2 Dance program to be performed in the Playhouse
in July.
An
extraordinary dancer with a highly developed sense of line and stillness, Liz
Lea takes much of her inspiration from science and philosophy. Her first solo,
“Two men and a Table” was a remarkable work inspired a conversation between Albert
Einstein and Rabindranath Tagore.
Responding to a recording of her own voice detailing the conversation, Lea’s mastery of Indian dance techniques informs the work, not only in her use of sweeping, graceful hand gestures punctuated with moments of stillness, but in her mobile facial movements where even the slightest raise of an eyebrow becomes significant. Then just as the viewer begins to wonder if the movements would be so transparent without the words, the words are replaced by a gentle Bach concerto, and the movements transform into an exquisite dance. The effect, enhanced by beautiful lighting design by Karen Norris, was breathtaking.
 |
| Liz Lea in "Two Men and a Table" Photo: Bec Thompson |
Responding to a recording of her own voice detailing the conversation, Lea’s mastery of Indian dance techniques informs the work, not only in her use of sweeping, graceful hand gestures punctuated with moments of stillness, but in her mobile facial movements where even the slightest raise of an eyebrow becomes significant. Then just as the viewer begins to wonder if the movements would be so transparent without the words, the words are replaced by a gentle Bach concerto, and the movements transform into an exquisite dance. The effect, enhanced by beautiful lighting design by Karen Norris, was breathtaking.
Although the
connection to the movement for another solo, “46864”, the prison number given
to Ahmed Kathrada who spent 26 years in prison with Nelson Mandela, was rather less
obvious, the work itself, performed in traditional Indian costume, to music by
the Sandy Evans Trio and Bobby Singh, proved fascinating.
 |
| Liz Lea in "Never Going to be Blue" Photo: Bec Thompson |
“Never Going
to Be Blue”, inspired by the sequencing of the first DNA-based genome , was a delightfully
tongue-in-cheek work in which Lea drew on her own DNA as a showgirl to create a
spectacular solo utilising her considerable burlesque skills manipulating red
feather fans and huge billowing red silk skirt. This work ended on a surprising
note as the prelude to a film "RED Mark 1" responding to Lea’s own experiences as a victim
of Endometriosis.
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| Liz Lea in a still from "RED Mark 1" |
No less
thought-provoking, but completely contrasting in style and execution, were
Alison Plevey’s solos, commencing with a remarkable work entitled “Dancing with
Drones” which featured Plevey mimicking a projected image of herself being
menaced, in various locations, by a
mechanical drone.
Butoh
influences were present in her solo “Andani Carmichael”, part of a forthcoming
full-length work “Mine!” which she is developing for her company “Australian
Dance Party”. Prettily costumed in pink, Plevey’s initially cheerful dance was
punctuated by the unsettling sounds of loud explosions. Playful episodes with Lego
pieces and a toy truck unexpectedly focussed in a sobering spoken statement
about mining and the Great Barrier Reef.
 |
| Alison Plevey "Dancing with Drones" |
Continuing
her focus on social issues, Plevey’s final work “I See” was a cleverly layered
comparison of the effects of the drug, Ice, and global warming, as evidenced in
the melting of polar icebergs, which again demonstrated Plevey’s extraordinary
ability to interpret complex abstract issues in dance terms.
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| Alison Plevey in "I See" Photo: Bec Thompson |
Embellishing
an already remarkable program, the QL2 Dance youth dance ensemble presented a
preview of its forthcoming work “This Poisoned Sea”. Also evoking icebergs, the
excerpt, “A Hellish Thing” was choreographed by Jack Ziesing to original music
by Adam Ventura.
Outfitted in striking orange and black costumes the ten young dancers executed Ziesing’s complex, inventive choreography with remarkable assurance and precision, leaving the audience in no doubt of the promise of an extraordinary experience when the full work is revealed in July.
Outfitted in striking orange and black costumes the ten young dancers executed Ziesing’s complex, inventive choreography with remarkable assurance and precision, leaving the audience in no doubt of the promise of an extraordinary experience when the full work is revealed in July.
 |
| QL2 Dance Ensemble performing "A Hellish Thing" Photo: Bec Thompson |
