QL2 Dance in
partnership with Youth Dance Australia
Choreographed by:
Timothy Farrar (AUSTI
Dance, Wollongong NSW)
Caitlin Comerford
(Stompin, Launceston TAS)
Gabrielle Rose
(FLING, Bega NSW)
Ruth Osborne and
Stephen Gow (QL2 Dance, Canberra ACT)
Alexandra Ford
(Catapult, Newcastle NSW)
Kyall Shanks (Yellow
Wheel, Melbourne VIC)
At The Playhouse,
Canberra Theatre Centre 10 July 2023
Reviewed by Len Power
‘Gather’ is the Meet Up Performance of this year’s gathering
of Australian Youth Dance companies in Canberra. Normally held every two years, this is the
first gathering after postponements due to Covid.
Meet Up is an opportunity for youth dance company leaders and young dancers to maintain national connections, discuss important issues and opportunities and share knowledge and skills. It is also an opportunity for their work to be performed on stage at the Playhouse.
This year, six dance companies from around Australia performed six new dance works. The local QL2 Dance company was joined by dance companies Yellow Wheel (Melbourne), Stompin (Launceston), Catapult – The Flipside Project (Newcastle), AUSTI Dance and Physical Theatre (Wollongong) and FLING Physical Theatre (Bega).
The evening of dance commenced with a short but visually striking contemporary Aboriginal piece by Jahna Lugman of Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr country and Julia Villafor of Waigman country. The two dancers showed considerable skill and technique in their performance of this work.
What followed were six works by each of the companies’ choreographers, developed in collaboration with the dancers. In each case, the imagination shown in the works was very appealing and mostly very effective. Some of the underlying meaning of the works needed more clarity but the dancers performed them all with sensitivity, technical skill and enthusiasm.
It was a good opportunity to see the work of other Australian companies as well as our local QL2 Dance company. It is clear that these companies provide an essential and worthwhile training ground for the choreographers and dancers of the future.
Len Power's reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’
programs.
