DIRTY FEET has now been around for twelve years and this is the latest season of their OUT OF THE STUDIO. Two very strong works in development raising various issues about our society and the world around us . The house was packed and treated to some exciting , unusual choreography and great dancing.
First up in the double bill was ‘Madonna’ choreographed and directed by Emma Harrison who also performed. The two other cast members were Emalyn Knight and Mikayla Nangle . Yes , Harrison’s work is inspired by Madonna as in the pop star phenomenon , but the work also examines the Madonnna/whore complex , the Virgin Mary , how women have been perceived , documented and pigeonholed throughout the ages and celebrates strong women throughout the ages .
There are references to Greco-Roman goddesses ( Diana and Athena ) and how women have been portrayed throughout time .The dancers are at some points posed like shop mannequins so there is also the ideal of the ‘perfect’ women’s body .The work also uses the dynamic of the female gaze as the dancers sometimes stare unflinchingly at the audience.
There are two headless legless torso statues of Woman , one on a plinth , one on the floor.There is a circular projection at the back – the moon? For some of the work Harrison’s choreography is like the push and pull of the tides. as influenced by the moon.
Harrison’s demanding choreography always seems to have a feeling of heaviness, of pushing against something , yet also celebrates female strength. There are sculptural poses , a rapid repeated series of movements as if the three performers were frantically getting ready for a night out, floor rolls, some intriguing lifts , twitches and trembles and arcing back bends among other things.
At one point the dancers collapse on the floor and have a slippery time slithering trying to stand again .Right at the end yes we are treated to a small segment of sharp spiky dance to one of Madonna’s songs.
The second work was ‘Cosmos’ by Callum Mooney performed by Kristie Pike, Jayden Wall and Neale Whittaker. It is many layered and could be ‘read ‘ in various ways . According to Mooney it is about various levels of consciousness – awakening , entering a dreamlike state and the third level is moving to a higher enlightened consciousness , perhaps only accessible through death .
The work opens with the cast slumped at a table (asleep ?) and there is a skeleton covered with flowers centre stage right at the front. A short film is projected on the back screen , a round up of current events looking at environmental concerns , destruction of the environment , overuse of technology and political turmoil .
The three sit then gradually move in slow , controlled yet jerky movements. All of the crowded items on the table are black -after a heated argument everything ends up on the floor. The lighting changes and suddenly there is just a dot on the performer’s heads that expands to reveal their whole face . The three do robotic movements with unusual lifts . They all have individual repeated phrases of movement and then they shuffle together at one point.
There are runs and floor rolls , very difficult lifts ( some with a performer upside down ) and the sound of their breath is important and focused on , as well as acrobatic rolls and tumbles. In the ‘dreamlike ‘ segment the three then assume strange beast like masks that light up – have they become aliens ?
Then with the masks off the three lie down beside the skeleton and breathe and pulsate as if becoming one with the Earth perhaps . A small hand held light is placed inside the skeleton where the heart would be and the three performers use tiny hand held lights (starting at the heart and moving up and down the body) that appear to float and flutter in a delicate , poignant sequence that is beautifully moving. Mention should be made of the fluid, flowing , fascinating projection throughout by Carla Zimbler that are somewhat psychedelic.
A fascinating , energetic performance that gave one substantial ideas for consideration.
DIRTY FEET OUT OF THE STUDIO performed on the 27th and 28th September 2019 at the East Sydney Community and Arts Centre.
https://www.dirtyfeet.com.au/out-of-the-studio-2019
Production photos by Yvonne Chen for Rolling Media Productions