Le Sacre: A Circus and Ballet Ensemble Collaboration - Review

Le Sacre: A Circus and Ballet Ensemble Collaboration - Review

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Posted 2018-06-16 by Jenfollow

Thu 14 Jun 2018 - Sat 23 Jun 2018


A collaboration that enmeshed two art forms perfectly, Le Sacre draws inspiration from an old dramatic tale (Nijinsky and Stravinsky's 1913 The Rite of Spring). Superstition and sacrifice reign supreme, infused with a couple of screeches and naturally comedic moments, amidst abductions, rival tribes, a procession of the wise elders, and mystic circles, but not before a 'pick me' moment, for the sacrificial glorification and dance of the chosen one.


Featuring 18 second year circus performers from NICA and 26 level seven ballet students from The Australian Ballet School, this is a primitive, dark tale. Without a background story, it might be a little difficult to digest for the little ones, who might be expecting to see some lighthearted traditional circus acts and ballerinas dancing happily. For the kids, even in its darkness, there's still a lot to enjoy in the performance of both genres that's filled with athleticism, sublime technical physicality, and a myriad of circus acts, not to mention a storm of costumes.


The language of diverse and balletic dance and circus speaks loudly and primitively. You are drawn into the movements, at times slow and trembly, but all adding to the earthy, pagan, and yet ethereal atmosphere. There's a fine balance of circus and ballet that fills the stage. With so much to see, you'd need to watch it again to capture the full story, and all the nuances the performers put into their movements and expressions, to tell the tale. There are some standout performers that command your attention, and you'll know who they are, as natural talent (and a lot of hard work no doubt) cannot be hidden.


Le Sacre will engage you and make you wonder what to expect next. I've never seen a skipping rope and ropes used so effectively, as it adds beauty, wonderment, and dark primitive paganism, at the same time, in supporting the story beautifully. The hula hoops, group acrobatics and tight wire also feature, including the roue Cyr (a single large wheel) and Chinese pole (vertical poles on which circus performers climb, slide down and hold poses) which will make you gasp from time to time. Then along come the ballerinas, like a refreshing wash as they move sublimely and elegantly flying across the stage, demonstrating the technicality of their art form in all its beauty.


After a 20 minute interval, just when you may be dreading that the second half of the performance is going to be more of the same; intense, gripping, tribal, and totally mesmerising, it instead gives you time to breathe. A little calm spaced out moment with a slightly different tempo before the storm; the final sacrifice. With a cast ranging in age from 16 to 28, this is a brave move that worked beautifully for Directors Meredith Kitchen and Zebastian Hunter, NICA's Movement and Performance Coordinators and Simon Dow, ABS' Artistic Teacher and Resident Choreographer. Their vision made possible and supported by the talents of the performers on stage, including good sound and excellent lighting design by Matthew Scott.


Try not to miss this engaging event at NICA, 39-59 Green St, Prahran (on the border of Windsor & Prahran) by booking now . A first week of SOLD OUT shows says something, so catch them during the remaining performances between 20-23 June at 7.30pm nightly, plus matinee at 2pm on 23 June, before its all over.

NICA is Australia's Centre of Excellence for training in contemporary circus arts, offering Australia's only Bachelor of Circus Arts. Graduates of NICA have gone on to pursue exciting careers locally and internationally, including work with Cirque du Soleil, Circa, Circus Oz and more. The Australian Ballet School is Australia's national centre for elite vocational classical dance and the school of The Australian Ballet. The School's eight level program aims to produce graduates of the highest calibre who are capable of integrating effortlessly into The Australian Ballet and top professional dance companies in Australia and around the world.

#south
#prahran
#performing_arts
#near_melbourne
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#community_events
#circus
#ballet
#theatre
#victoria
#june
!date 14/06/2018 -- 23/06/2018
%wnmelbourne
153152 - 2023-06-14 07:32:21

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