Standing Bird

Standing Bird is a series of four journeys made by one woman across the Australian landscape. Preparations for the journey take place as the audience enters the space. Creator Sally Richardson moves lights, set and props and this acts as a regular transition between each journey. Dancer Jacqui Claus leads us through her odyssey, which begins in the city.

Here we see Claus posing at a nightclub compete with glittery frock and platform shoes but she slowly begins to descend out of control. The wine begins to dribble out of the glass and her body follows, collapsing onto the floor. The body then rolls, slides, tips and flips in a chaotic rant, literally bashing against anything in sight, all the while trying to elevate up and out of the depths of despair, which becomes a continuous motif throughout the work.

In the stunning digital footage that fills the space we see the dancer submerged underwater, continuing her struggle to be released. She finds herself among sand, dislocated and alone.

A lighter and brighter change ahead forms aspects of new beginnings. The dancer changes into a bridal dress and gracefully adjusts herself and ruffles her costume. She moves in procession across the space in a swan-like appearance, demonstrating a series of controlled developes accompanied with an extremely long bridal train. She held court with us in the centre of the space while her own inner self is projected onto the fabric.

However what goes up must come down, and as humans we can never be perfect. Richardson placed a number of mirrors around the dancer, reflecting her inner struggle and isolation. The triumph of the work became her transformation. This was highlighted with Claus hatching out of a tight space on the ground and elevating herself up to perform a series of powerful bird movements. Her bare body displayed her shoulder blades skillfully articulating the rest of her arms to move as a magnificent winged creature. The lights dimmed but one remaining spotlight was left by Richardson, who cast this on the timeless spirit bird: herself.

Claus has conquered, and she has made this solo work her own. She ably provided the sheer physical and emotional depth demanded by this full-length work. Much credit also goes to creator Sally Richardson, who has gathered together many of WA’s leading performance artists in dance, film, theatre and music over the years to produce this world-premiere event.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Standing Bird
Direction and original concept by Sally Richardson
Choreography by Danielle Micich
Dramaturgy by Humphrey Bower
Sound by Kingsley Reeve
Video art by Ashley de Prazer
Performed by Jacqui Claus
Lighting by Mike Nanning
Costumes by Fiona Bruce
Produced by Performing Lines WA

PICA performance Space
7 February–12 February 2012

Bookings: www.fringeworld.com.au