Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet: Mixed Rep – Adelaide Festival Review

Festival Theatre, Fri Mar 6. Of the three works of the evening, Ten Duets On A Theme Of Rescue choreographed by Crystal Pite was my favourite. That is not to say that the other two works, Indigo Rose and Violet Kid were not exquisite examples of choreography and execution, but as a non-dancer, I could relate to the performance and themes presented in the duet piece more easily. Obviously, each viewer will gain from the performance what speaks to them most, but from this performance I took away that we all need to be rescued at some time, from the love and the fight for it, the give and give up of it, the light and the dark of life itself. There were moments of mayhem and also silence, where I could not only hear the breath of the dancers but also my own. Indigo Rose choreographed by Jiří Kylián showcased individual dancers within solo pieces whilst then allowing us to see their strength and vulnerability using beautiful control in short duets bathed in spotlights. Moving on to a frenetic shadow dance where 2D and 3D dancers collide. Violet Kid choreographed by and music written by Hofesh Shechter highlighted that the individual is also part of the ‘collective’ – a movement of 14 people as one whole. At times almost tribal in feeling, dancers writhing and moving from within this collective like lava from the volcano. Throughout the performances, each dancer forms lines with their bodies that should be impossible, but they create a world, a peace, a space of possibility. The energy, expertise, dedication, strength, trust and poise required by each of them, throughout the performance of three highly different pieces, each with their own story to tell, was inspiring. Charissa McCluskey-Garcia Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet: Mixed Rep continues at Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, until Sat Mar 7. Book at BASS on 131 246 or bass.net.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.