Sydney Dance Company - Shared Frequencies

Sydney Dance Company - Shared Frequencies

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Posted 2011-03-29 by Sarah Hanfollow
Shared Frequencies is a double bill of two contemporary dance pieces performed by the Sydney Dance Company . The performance is currently on at Sydney Theatre .

First on the program is Italian guest choreographer Jacopo Godani's Raw Models. This is the first time Godani has choreographed in Australia. Accompanied by the commissioned score of German duo 48nord, the choreography uses the electronic and acoustic sounds to its advantage. The music complements the dance creation in its industrial feel.

The costumes are black with meshed tops and socks. The dancers are surrounded by black walls that only open up to the audience. The lighting is stark and simple, lacking colour and shape. All these elements come together to showcase the raw and chilling creation.

Godani's movement vocabulary in this piece combines fluidity with accented pauses and bursts of movement. Abrupt movements follow the irregular rhythm of the music.

There are a few zombie-like moments where the dancers are in a line, coming towards the audience. It is an eerie and haunting experience as we are directly confronted with these ghostly creatures.

While Godani declares that Raw Models is about our alter-egos, the piece seems to be more about movement rather than subject matter. I was impressed by Godani's style, but the underlying meaning isn't very clear.



After a 20-minute interlude, Rafael Bonachela's LANDforms begins. In the program Bonachela reveals that LANDforms is an exploration of "emotional responses to the landscape and set to a score inspired by the weather elements that shape that landscape."

What immediately strikes me is the beautiful score composed by Ezio Bosso. The music is emotional and mesmerising. The sounds of the piano, cello, and violin as well as vocalist Katie Noonan drive the dance piece.

The costume design joins Bonachela's landscape theme through its earthy, neutral colours. Also, the lighting draws on mostly earthy tones.

However, towards the end of the piece a shift to a modern landscape occurs. The lighting changes accordingly. One of the most arresting moments of the entire performance is when squares light up, dispersed across the stage. These small squares only fit one dancer underneath, and accordingly the movements are confined to this small square space.

Bonachela's movement style is sinuous and luscious. Duets, and any other contact work for that matter, are his most successful accomplishment. His movement choices are centred around deep lunges and smooth transitions between floorwork and standing manoeuvres.

When all 15 dancers are present on stage, they are imposing and impressive. The finale, featuring all dancers, is unexpected. Water falls like rain in a single line, illuminated by a white light across the stage.



Shared Frequencies will run until 16 April. Buy tickets on the Sydney Theatre website .

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113834 - 2023-06-12 17:19:41

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