DANCE REVIEW: Sydney Dance Company

  

Sydney Dance Company absolutely sparkles in this terrific program.

It opens with Reed Luplau's Go! as part of the Overture series. Gripping, intense and passionate. While the Murphy influence is obvious, Reed has his own very distinctive off-kilter choreographic line and acrobatic, sculptural vocabulary.

Pulsating neon lights suspended above the open foyer stage act as the set and as a counterpoint to the soundtrack.

The main work of the evening is Sid's Waltzing Masquerade, commissioned from Canadian Azure Barton for the third season of in what could almost be called a year in limbo for the company, after the terrible loss of its newly appointed artistic director Tanja Liedtke last year.

Barton has developed a reputation as a diverse, witty and exciting choreographer who draws from a wide range of movement styles. The work has no plot, showcasing dance for the exuberant sake of dance.

There are allusions to the grand traditional nineteenth century Russian ballets (at one point there is an ironic parody of a Russian -style pas de deux to a lullaby) Balanchine, Mark Morris, Forsythe and also jazz, ballroom, acrobatics and Broadway 'hoofing' all combined in a joyous coagulation.

She uses a particular idiosyncratic style of leap and demands exceptional elevation and very soft balloon for landings from jump.

Barton has obviously taken great care to get to know the dancers who are technically in fantastic form. Riveting Sydney Dance stalwart Bradley Chatfield is featured right from the start as he opens the show, oozing charisma, lowered from a great height sitting in a chair lip -synching to a torch song.

Chatfield is the main protagonist in this work, at times acting as a guide, at others an observer, sometimes the centre of attention, sometimes outside the rest of the performers.

Other dancers also get their fifteen minutes of fame - including fluid Wen Chen.

Annabel Knight has an incredible swan - like solo ducking out from under the arms of Simon Turner's dream world.

Luplau lights up the stage magnificently and Ian Robinson, Barton's collaborative assistant, also shines. The actual Waltzing Matilda section I found possibly a bit clunky and overlong but still hugely enjoyable.

Chatfield was in a grey/green suit, Luplau in white a la Fred Astaire - otherwise the men were mostly in black. However there were several costume changes for the women (designed by Michelle Jank) - at times frilly, floaty pastel gowns, at others very revealing leotards.

Musically the soundtrack is very eclectic, ranging from Vivaldi, Brahms, Mercer, Schnittke, Jimmy Scott and Rolf Harris. Special mention must also be made of the fabulous lighting by Trudy Dalgleish.

If you want to see gorgeous bright young things in a superb display of excellent dancing then this is for you.

Sid’s Waltzing Masquerade by Aszure Barton
Until October 25 at Carriageworks (245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh).
For tickets tickets call 136 100 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.au