In Sydney’s annual New Breed program, four upcoming choreographers use the language of movement to show us their take on what the world will look like. The Sydney Dance Company’s New Breed initiative debuted in 2014, with sold out seasons in the following four years.
In the sixth year of its run, we’re introduced to a new lineup of choreographers; Josh Mu, Lauren Langlois, Ariella Casu, and Davide Di Giovanni, who derive inspiration from the future, seeking to comment on the potential dystopian society we’re building and the precipice of death.
Sydney Dance Company leading dancer Davide Di Giovanni kicks off proceedings with In Walked Bud, a performance inspired by jazz music from Thelonius Monk. In the three dancer performance, Alexander Berlage utilises lighting techniques reminiscent of film noir, which provide the audience with selective perspectives of the story. At 13 minutes, In Walked Bud is short and sweet, just enough time to showcase the trio of dancers’ expressively serpentine performances, accentuated by sleek costumes from Guy Hastie.
Fellow company member Ariella Casu’s Arise comments on the restrictions society imposes on us and the positive effects of breaking away from them. The performance is fairly literal, with Guy Hastie’s costumes involving skin-tight latex hoodies set over nude clothing and the choreography including marching with dancers breaking away from the pack with fluid solos. The piece was well-performed by the nine dancer ensemble and one of the most popular with the audience on opening night.
Creeper by Lauren Langlois is next up, building on the tension introduced in Casu’s piece. Angular and jerky, Creeper comments on the disconnect in our post-technology society. Her four dancers reach out and reject, converge and disperse; yet somehow remain centred around each other.
Independent contemporary dancer Josh Mu’s piece closes the show with Zero, an energetic and electric piece infused with urban influences, with music by Huey Benjamin. Zero utilises the largest number of dancers on the night, continually interacting with each other to create a unified performance wherein each dancer’s movement impact the dancers surrounding them in a chain reaction.
Check out New Breed at Carriageworks. For tickets and more info, head to the Sydney Dance Company website here.