New Breed is a program of new dance works created by four emerging choreographers, and presented by Sydney Dance Company at Carriageworks, Sydney.
The four new works all have powerful and exhilarating moments, and are danced with total commitment, athletic precision and artistry by this company of world-class dancers.
So Much Doesn’t Matter, by SDC company member Fiona Jopp is the standout piece. This work is an exploration of the resonances, and the layerings of meaning, in the song ‘Greensleeves’. At first, the choreography explores the sensual physical pleasures of love, but the piece moves into another gear altogether when working with Leonard Cohen’s version of the song and the intense sense of loss and grief at the end of a relationship is explored. Seized or possessed by grief, dancer Juliette Barton is partnered and lifted in a section in which she dances with total fearless physical commitment in a state similar to prolonged swooning – extraordinary, emotionally moving artistry of the highest order.
Derived, choreographed by SDC member Bernhard Knauer, explores a strong, uncompromisingly abstract aesthetic that is best realized in the opening solo by Holly Doyle. Performed to music written by his father Jurgen Knauer, this work has moments of gripping intensity.
Conform, Kristina Chan’s work explores notions of masculinity using an all-male cast of dancers from SDC. It is a powerful, dark piece featuring strong physical commitment from all the dancers. Grappling duos are interspersed with group walking patterns as the dancers are seized by either the desire to conform to the group, or else the urge to combat conformity. A strong lighting design enhances the mood and potency of the piece.
Reign by Daniel Riley has moments of extraordinary visceral power that come together with a strong visual/physical theatre aesthetic to create sections that are truly stunning.
Combined, these emerging choreographers have created an evening of diverse, stimulating and engaging work.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
New Breed
Sydney Dance Company
Choreographers: Bernard Knauer, Kristina Chan, Fiona Jopp, Daniel Riley
Lighting Design: Matthew Marshall
Costume Design/ Realization: Alana Sargent, Fiona Holley, Alesia Jelbart
Composers: Jurgen Knauer, James Brown, Alicia Merz, Tobias Merz, Nick Thayer
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
8-13 December 2015
