As part of the huge Sydney Fringe Festival on at the moment we were lucky to see an impressive mixed bill by the Melbourne City Ballet in their first visit to Sydney. The company was founded in 2013 under the direction of Michael Pappalardo and has already had several seasons in Melboune to great acclaim. The three works were Quantam, Acceptance (part of a larger work called ‘Grief’) and Consumption.
Two of the works were quite spiky and ‘neo-classical ‘ in style with Acceptance, the middle work, being far more ‘traditional’ classical ballet style.
The program was performed in a white studio box , there was no actual set per se, just white walls and the dark tarquet floor. Excellent atmospheric lighting was used as was dry ice. Six assorted dancers appeared at various points in the program.Technically the dancing was tremendous , with pointe work and in ballet flats ,a wonderful use of the lower back and exquisite epaulement. Choreographically all three works were challenging with dynamic , unusual lifts and also an interesting use of floorwork.
The first work, Quantam, had a quite spiky yet sculptural Balanchine like ‘neo-classical ‘ feel and was danced in black and white ‘rehearsal’ clothes .There was no real narrative story as such rather dancing through the crashing ,electronically edited distortions of Barber’s music ( shades of Graeme Murphy’s ‘Some Rooms ‘) .It had a drifting , dreamlike feel as if the dancers were in search of something.
Sometimes there were short, impressive solos and tremendous unison work for the whole cast . At one point there was a wave like sculptural flow of floor work, Angular phrases of movement were repeated.Most impressive use of shadows were made in some of the solos. A very traditional ‘pas de bourree’ was used at times , as in Swan Lake or Giselle yet at other times contemporary snatches of choreography were blended with some most exciting lifts etc.
The middle work, Acceptance, part of a larger program called Grief ,part of the Melbourne Fringe , was the most balletic in format. Lots of dry ice was used. It was a rather romantic pas de deux , with warm lighting and featured Luanne Hyson in a lovely pale pink short dress , and Justine Zee in skin coloured short leggings . This was mostly lyrical in feel and featured some wonderful unusual lifts and other inspired choreography.
The final work , Consumption, was also rather ‘neo-classical’ in style and seemed to be about trying to save our fragile environment. Choreographically it demanded a long singing ‘line’ , with a strong use of straight arms , and was performed with great attack . A lot of red lighting was used (dangerous fires destroying the environment? Or blood as in t.b. ?), The dancers were clad in rather unflattering dark bronze/gold outfits, with a zip at the front and different colours for the high-cut edges around the leg area. There were some wonderful soft jumps and a distinctive use of the shoulders required.
It was great to see the work of this exciting interstate ballet company.
A NIGHT WITH MELBOURNE CITY BALLET played at The Commune as part of Sydney Fringe on the 12th and 13th September.
Running time – an hour ( approx ) no interval
For more about A Night With Melbourne City Ballet, visit http://www.melbourencityballet.com.au