Dunstan Playhouse, Wed 23 Jun.
In The Balance is a collaboration between two Adelaide icons Restless Dance Theatre and The Audreys. Well-chosen songs frame the theme of balancing expectations and realities, as the dancers portray some familiar situations to us, and we observe the influences that shape human behaviour.
The strength of Restless Dance Theatre is in the genuine way the dancers express their individual creativity. This contemporary dance company trains young people with and without disabilities. Performers are respected for the skills they have, and are coached to reveal their uniqueness, fitness and some pretty impressive dance moves. The dance company was originally approached by the folk rock duo The Audreysto appear in a video for one of their songs, and this collaboration has developed from that. Taasha Coates and Tristan Goodall, backed by Cameron Goodall and Enrico Morena perform live for this performance, and set the scene for some really beautiful moments.
The stage is a dance party, with colourful, pulsing lights and an air of excitement. The performance opens with the dancers posing as if nervously preparing for a big event, and then transition to dancing with abandon to Paradise City. Proving that “we all bear our own load”, but our attitude makes all the difference, there were no scared or mean people on stage here!
We could all identify with the ‘Boy meets Girl routine’ set to the upbeat Baby, Are You There? and told with some comic moments. “Oh I never thought I’d get a look in, oh I never thought I’d get a shot, Oh but when I saw you looking, hey we always want what we ain’t got.” The show had our attention from the start, was fast-paced, lots of variety, and interesting moves like the swift hip-hop slides to echo “I’ve fallen down a hundred times gotten up a hundred more.” It’s all a question of Balance – especially when you are piling chairs on top of each other and throwing balls!
The theme of individual ability blended seamlessly with teamwork throughout the show. They explored unity, exclusion, and strength in taking on challenges. Two smartly dressed young men command the stage to the catchy cowboy beat of Nothing Wrong With Me, and start duelling with their dance moves. In an effort to out-do each other, they up the ante by whipping off their jackets, and throwing in some superbly timed cheeky moves! The rest of the male dancers gathered round and a fracas occurs, with the ladies cheering them on. Taking on the challenge, one brave lady breaks up the fight, suggesting it can be dealt with another way. “I can’t do what you do, there’s nothing wrong with me, maybe there’s something wrong with you.”
They definitely found the balance. It was a heart-warming and entertaining evening, lots of energy and sass, with a powerful finish. I loved the show, and it left me wanting to put more dance in my life!
Karen Bailey
Restless Dance Theatre & The Audreys perform In The Balance at Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre, from 6.30pm until Thu 23 Jun.
Book at BASS on 131 246 and bass.net.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.
Images courtesy of Shane Reid
Social Media:
Facebook: Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Twitter: @AdelaideCabaret #AdCabFest
Instagram: @AdelaideCabaret
Facebook: The Clothesline – Digital Arts Magazine
Twitter: @Clothesline_Mag
The Clothesline Rating...
Karen Bailey
Heart-warming and entertaining evening, lots of energy and sass, with a powerful finish
