Rising is a series of four distinct works performed by Aakash Odedra. Commencing with his own piece, the four performances develop concepts of movement and light, working closely with lighting designers Michael Hulls and Willy Cessa to produce integrated works blending movement and technical design to engage on a range of levels.
Opening with Odedra’s own choreographed work, Nritta, we see a brave decision to present his own work up front, usefully establishing the performer’s own creative palette. With a background in classical Indian Kathak and Bharata Natyam dance styles, Odedra’s upright torso retains a vertical axis around which he spins and works detailed foot and hand movements around his periphery while maintaining a steady, poised centre. Accompanied by sitar and tabla, he develops his own counter rhythms with bare feet slapping against the stage, a simple descending spotlight expanding and contracting with the progress of the piece, celebrating Odedra’s joyful accomplishment.
Akram Khan develops a compelling work in In the Shadow of Man that contrasts sharply with the formalism of Nritta, a primal sensation complete with a grid of warm light shaping the space, and uttered howls and yips punctuating the movements. Odedra moves with fluid grace, strongly working his back muscles to contort his shoulder blades in an increasingly dynamic way until his crouched body explodes up and out with arms flailing to continue the pattern of expression. With nothing fixed about his torso now, Odedra retains a steady grace that informs all his poses and explosions of movement around the stage.
Russell Maliphant designs the most visually arresting work in Cut. Tightly projected bars of light hit the stage as the base of descending isosceles triangles. A hand flies in and out of view as Odedra moves behind the bright light, barely visible. The arrangement of the bars of light shifts, and the pace of the movement changes, with bars creating a stairway up the stage and moments of dance are captured as a series of stills, like the effect of a strobe light. Further development sees the bars flicker and merge to create a solid block of white in the midst of the darkened stage and Odedra holds his pose, barely moving… until his increasing motion seems to rupture the light, returning it to flickering lines across the stage before closing with the opening configuration. While Cut is delightful to watch, Maliphant seems to be exploring an idea with extreme lighting and more could have been attempted with movement elements, exploiting the potential of the concept rather than leaving it as a gimmick.
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Constellation is a sweet and contemplative piece that plays with light in a more organic way. Odedra promenades around the stage, bringing light to hanging globes that then sway and move around him. He caresses the lights, echoing their sways in his dance, as he gently moves around the stage. Even when he has built up speed and is whirling and careering through the points of light, he still seems to be moving effortlessly, and his interactions with the globes are reflective and tender. More use is made of light as one globe is moved around the stage, other globes extinguishing as it passes, the dimming stage enhancing the effect of the brightening of the carried light. As Odedra swings it around in a circle before him, the pool of light burns into the eyes of the audience, causing the impression of a darker circle encompassing him as he moves back up the stage. Ending with a meditative effect, Constellation leaves the audience spellbound.
Overall, Rising provides an impressive demonstration of Odedra’s talents and stamina, and a lovely sample of the current work of three leading choreographers. A delightful addition to the Perth International Arts Festival programme, allowing local audiences a taste of developments in world-leading contemporary dance.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Rising
Performed by Aakash Odedra
Nritta
Choreographed and music arranged by Aakash Odedra
In the Shadow of Man
Choreographed by Akram Khan
Lighting by Michael Hulls
Music by Jocelyn Pook
Cut
Choreographed by Russell Maliphant
Lighting by Michael Hulls
Music by Andy Cowton
Constellation
Choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Lighting by Willy Cessa
Music by Olga Wojcieowska
Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA
19-21 February 2015
Perth International Arts Festival 2015
www.perthfestival.com.au
13 February – 7 March
