BWW Reviews: The Devastation Of Earthquakes That Affected Two Cities, Half A World Apart, Is Interpreted In Dance In FAULT LINES.
By: Jade Kops Jun. 12, 2015
Thursday 11th June 2015, 7:30pm, Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay
China's Sichuan Province based Leshan Song & Dance Troupe, in collaboration with New Zealand Choreographer Sara Brodie use contemporary dance to express the human responses to the earthquakes that changed China's Sichuan Province and New Zealand's Christchurch in FAULT LINES.
A single table and chairs is revealed, exposing a Mah-jong game as people stream onstage, all transfixed by their phones, texting, reading, and talking, all dodging each other and oblivious to the Mah-jong player dancing through them, symbolising their world prior to the disaster that would kill 69,197 people in the Sichuan Province in 2008 and 185 in Christchurch in 2011.
To understand the significance and danger of earthquakes on society globally, a brief history of Tectonic Theory is projected onto the rear wall along with a seemingly unending list of cities situated on fault lines around the world and . An announcement of what to do in the event of an Earthquake is presented and projections of the seismograph readings along with sound and physical response indicate the tremors and their increasing intensity.
The responses that follow demonstrate confusion, loss, despair but also unity and strength as communities came together to rebuild. The projection of the Maori phrase "Kia Kaha", Stay Strong, and the Chinese Xiong Oi, understood to relate to 'bear strength' a term used to describe someone who is strong, is combined with demonstrations of resilience and defiance.
The emotions are expressed through fluid dance as solos, duets and ensemble pieces with the addition of simple props. The music and energy however all sit at a similar level for the most part and many pieces are not obvious in their message. Whilst the dancers demonstrate grace and precision, the gentle music, flowing dance and monochromatic costumes have one dance meld into each other without the individual stories really being expressed. The continual presence of the Mah-Jong table and the inclusion of a Chinese Opera figure in traditional robes amongst the dancers, all dressed in modern attire, make the connection to the Chinese story but apart from the reference to the Maori phrase and a projection of Lyttleton, the town near Christchurch where the New Zealand earthquake hit, there is little that demonstrates the New Zealand connection in the works.
This is a more China centric work than the media releases indicate but would still appeal to those interested in contemporary dance as it is not too heavy is traditional Chinese styling and sound.
Sydney:
Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road Walsh Bay
11-13 June 2015
www.roslynpackertheatre.com.au
02 9250 1999
Canberra:
The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre
15-16 June 2015
www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au
02 6275 2700
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