Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne.
28 August 2024.
There was something in the air on opening night of Bangarra Dance Theatre’s latest work, Horizon, the company’s first international collaboration featuring Australian and New Zealand stories. From the excited chatter in the theatre foyer to the audience cheers following a very special Welcome To Country, by the time the curtain rose on Act 1, it was clear that we were in for something special.
Centring on the theme of ‘home’, Horizon comprised two Acts – Kulka and The Light Inside, and the program introduced three new choreographic voices: Sani Townson (Saibai), Deborah Brown (Waikaid clan, Meriam) and Moss Te Uruangi Patterson (Ngati Tuwharetoa).
What is home? Is it a place, a feeling, an idea? Is it where we come from? As a young boy, Townson’s grandfather told him that his family comes from the stars, with their traditional songs and dances reflecting constellations. Featuring four movements (Life, Bloodline, Crocodile God and Adrenaline), Townson’s piece took place under a large mirror, providing the illusion of the dancers as stars in the sky. Later in the piece, the mirror acted as a muted waterway that transformed the dancers into a moving crocodile.
Townson’s choreography first saw the dancers weave in and out of partnering as though moving through the sky, then build to the final movement that showed the dancers exhibiting the thrill of song and dance. Amy Flannery’s music brought Kulka to life with its intense and pulsating score.
Following an interval, Act 2 commenced and ran for 72 minutes which felt heavy handed given the first Act’s 20 minutes. The Light Inside had two distinct sections: Salt Water (Deborah Brown), and Fresh Water (Moss Patterson) which could have been separated by a further interval. Nonetheless, the two sections worked well together and took the audience on a journey of people, place and unity.
Brown’s choreography was aptly fluid for the subject matter, with the movement ‘Blue Star’ showcasing the incredible Lillian Banks who shone brighter than the twinkling star her solo portrayed.
Patterson brought to the stage his Māori roots, seeing the dancers take on the style with ease and authenticity. A standout section was ‘Sacred Hair’ where the long hair of the dancers intertwined and called to the power of the feminine.
Unity demonstrated the strength and power of the company and shared stories of its people through dance and music. It was a visual feast that explored the importance of home – a concept unique to each of us.
By Rebecca Martin of Dance Informa.
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