It’s a chilly but beautiful winter’s night on Cadigal land as I walk towards the Sydney Opera House. The lights of Vivid Sydney paint the harbour with mesmerising displays, creating the perfect atmosphere in the lead up to seeing Bangarra Dance Theatre’s brand new production, Illume. While Vivid lights up the exterior of the iconic Opera House, Illume sets the stage alight from the inside.
An otherworldly spectacle, Illume is a collaboration between Mirning choreographer (and Bangarra’s visionary artistic director) Frances Rings and Goolarrgon Bard visual artist Darrell Sibosado. Sibosado, known for his innovative contemporary light installations, lends his talents to the set and stage design in a theatrical experience that pays tribute to the creation stories of the Bard and Jawi people and the cultural hero, Galaloong.
As the performance begins, audiences are immediately awestruck by a stunning display of the night sky – the dancers are enveloped by twinkling stars projected onto a sheer screen at the front of the stage and also on the back wall, with yet more lights darting around the stage providing an atmospheric glimmer. Elizabeth Gadsby’s costume design complements this, sparkly black dresses shimmer under the lights, alluding to the pristine beauty of land and sky untouched by environmental pollution. As the story progresses, and with each change in season, the costumes reflect the surroundings; shades of brown, red and beige are worn in the warmer and dry seasons. This attention to detail demonstrates a strong commitment to holistic storytelling.
The symbolism woven throughout, by way of the choreography, props and stage design, transports the audience through a journey of Country and spiritualism.
a stunning and powerful production... can't be missed
Vertical light blocks move up and down while the dancers navigate their bodies around them in a beautiful symbolic display of the spiritual significance of trees in Indigenous cultures. As the dancers travel across the stage, they move through a combination of dance styles, from traditional cultural dance, to contemporary dance and lyrical steps.
Rings’ stylistic choices expertly utilise the dancers’ bodies to create beautiful patterns and shapes, and to mimic natural elements. Throughout the production we see the women dancing together as a united group, followed by the men dancing together; and while these groups remain separate in some scenes, in others they are combined. Rings’ use of perspective and height is also successful in creating atmosphere and continuity of the story. As the dancers fall and roll across the stage in sync with one another, it mimics rolling water or wind. As the dancers lift each other up, creating differences in height, we can follow the story of the trees as they grow, sway and react to the elements.
The music, composed by Brendon Boney, is also spectacular and, in some scenes, unexpected. While we are treated to percussive beats involving traditional instruments such as clapping sticks, there are also nods to science-fiction. As the show progresses, we start to experience more futuristic music and visuals, including some elements of hip-hop style movements accompanied by more techno-forward scores.
The production’s prop work also builds off the stunning light display. For example, one memorable scene involves dancers holding large illuminated ropes, twisting them and creating patterns. As a dancer myself, I want to note just how difficult that is to do – the precision required to ensure every dancer arrives at the specific spot on stage at the right moment to produce the shape is something that takes many hours of intricate planning and rehearsals. Yet, the dancers move with such ease and grace that it appears effortless. This ensemble’s seamless and impressive transitions are to be highly commended.
For me, the most beautiful moment of the whole show would have to be the yarning circle that occurs towards the end. A calm, quiet and seemingly “simple” moment, this scene is able to convey deep connection with little movement. As a fire steadily burns to the right side of the stage, a group of dancers to the left are huddled together in a yarning circle, a cultural practice undertaken for close connection between mob. As the dancers sit there, under a spotlight, ash gently falls from the sky onto them. The effect is calm and serene.
Overall, Illume is a stunning and powerful production. It is evident that an enormous amount of work has gone into this, and the result is a striking show that can’t be missed. I highly recommend that you get out to see it.
Illume is playing a limited season at the Sydney Opera House from June 4–14, before embarking on a national tour. Find out more at bangarra.com.au.
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