Bespoke Queensland Ballet

Bespoke Queensland Ballet

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Posted 2023-08-03 by John Andrewfollow

Thu 27 Jul 2023 - Sat 05 Aug 2023

Every Step a Dynamic Story



Bespoke returns for its sixth year to challenge and excite dancers and audiences alike with contemporary dance.



This season the decision was made to procure the choreographic works of award-winning Remi Wortmeyer, formerly with the Dutch National Ballet; Paul Boyd. currently ballet master and resident choreographer at Queensland Ballet, and Natalie Weir, international choreographer of over 30 years.



The Talbot Theatre at the Thomas Dixon Centre provided the perfect cosy backdrop for this more intimate contemporary experience. Laying back in our comfortable seats with excellent views of the stage the three works unfolded in a way that hallmarked the wonderful scope of contemporary dance for dynamic and unique performances.



Miroirs (Wortmeyer) invited us with the sumptuous music of Ravel to explore mirrored emotions through dance. By pairing dancers mirroring each others’ movements and the metallic edges in stage and costume designs, the choreographer inspires us to see our world, narcissism and relationships in reflection. Wortmeyer describes it as a non-narrative piece allowing open interpretation by audience members through their own narrative lens. Similarly, Wortmeyer was inspired by the exceptionally talented and hardworking Queensland Ballet members who dynamically contributed to the choreography by receiving and giving suggestions, thereby elevating the piece with their own creative talents. Daniel Le provided a continuous piano accompaniment on stage which was lavishly applauded at curtain call.



In sharp contrast, Tartans was a piece minted from the beautiful lively dance and booming bagpipes of the Scottish Highlands. It heralded its entry with the wistful musings of an elderly ailing man who relives his past and the ghosts of his youth return to joyous music and dance.



It is hard to describe in a short review how many nuances of the choreography and dance made this so successful. Certainly, one fortunate element was the choice of Queensland Ballet alumni, Graeme Collins, who not only played the movements of an elderly man convincingly but conveyed through his beaming smile the ability to slough off years of ageing with the lively depiction of the reliving of formative years.



The Jette Parker young dancers provided a powerful evocation of youth and vigour in juxtaposition to Graeme and the chemistry between the dancers and Graeme was palpable. Also, the choreography was crafted in sections to highlight different aspects of Scottish dance and music with some lovely amalgamation of traditional highland dance moves with contemporary dance. It was a work that brought howls of delight from the audience and deservedly so.



Four Last Songs jumped to a more sombre transcendental mood with its inspiration rooted in three artistic genres; poetry inspiring music and, in turn, inspiring dance. Richard Strauss wrote the music “Four Last Songs” based on a poem by Eichendorff (At Sunset) in which an ageing couple wonders:

“ Oh vast tranquil peace
So deep in sunset glow
How weary we are of wandering-
Could this perhaps be death?”

The four songs begin with Spring, followed by September, Going to Sleep and At Sunset. This glorious music inspired Natalie Weir’s choreography to create through dance and costumes the flow through the four seasons of life and the deep-felt appreciation of life before leaving it.



Needless to say, this was a more pensive piece that required intense emotional interpretation from our dancers and mostly involved soloists from the Queensland Ballet. A highlight of the work was the powerful mesmerising performance by lead couple Lucy Green and Patricio Reve. It is hard to take your eyes off these two who are absolutely on point in their dance of this mellifluous and deeply emotional choreographed work.



Yet again Bespoke inspires and breaks new ground in contemporary dance. Yet again the latest Bespoke builds on the inspiration of previous choreographers and dancers of previous years and each year it just gets better.

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#performing_arts
261770 - 2023-08-03 08:05:40

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