With a Bullet: The Album Project is a dance concept that began in Melbourne in 2006. Eight different choreographers are asked to think back and recall the first song they ever created a dance piece to, and then create a new work with that song as inspiration. Victorian artist and choreographer Nat Cursio is the woman behind the project, and after a couple of runs in Melbourne, she’s brought the idea out west for Fringe World, engaging the nostalgic pasts of several Perth choreographers.
It’s a playful concept and it makes for a very playful, colourful show, involving everything from Eighties tracksuit jackets to an iPad-driven remote control car. And you can imagine what the songs might be; ranging from embarrassing and obscure to anthem, every one of them steeped in nostalgia.
With a Bullet acknowledges that the easiest way to deal with our younger, more embarrassing selves is often with tongue-in-cheek irreverence; rarely does the tone of the new works vary from a state of play. Everything about the project is gloriously unpretentious and accessible, and when a performance falters, it is usually because it has taken itself too seriously. With such a relatable subject matter, the result is a dance performance that’s perfect for people who are intimidated by contemporary dance.
Much of the project’s quality stems from the direction. There is a wide ranging level of ability and skill among the dancers, and it is the curation and choreography that levels out the playing field and neutralises any imbalances, without compromising on the quality of the overall performance. And there are some astonishing performances: precise timing, full commitment, easy humour, though the show can be, at times, a little rough around the edges.
Numerous props make for messy transitions in a simple black box theatre, while the pause between Side One and Side Two – when the house lights go up and everything inexplicably stops for a few minutes in the middle of the show – is oddly placed, and a bit pointless. But who cares. Everyone on stage is having a ball. It would be silly not to relax and do the same.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
The Blue Room Theatre Summer Nights and Nat Cursio Company present
In association with PICA
With a Bullet: The Album Project
Choreographed by Aimee Smith, Jacob Lehrer, Kynan Hughes, Michael Whaites, Rachel Arianne Ogle, Sam Fox, Shona Erskine and Nat Cursio
Performed by Aimee Smith, Claudia Alessi, Joel Small, Kynan Hughes,
Rachel Arianne Ogle, Shona Erskine, Sete Tele, Trish Wood and Sam Fox
Producer: Jo Pickup
PICA, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
19 – 23 February
Fringe World 2013
www.fringeworld.com.au
25 January – 24 February
