DANCE: UNDERGROUND

BY STEPHANIE-KATE BRATTON

An energetic new dance theatre piece created by Gavin Webber, in collaboration with Townsville-based company DanceNorth, Underground opens this month at Performance Space. This dynamic explosion of movement and tension, accented by the daring choreography of acclaimed Gavin Webber, explores the human capacity for emotion through the mundane reality of commuting. Webber portrays the paranoia and fears of public transport users in his typical rapid, dangerous style.

Set in a subway during rush hour, Underground shows a place where commuters slip between dull reality and a surreal dream world. The audience is transported into a place of instability, where the routine predictability of the commuter blur is replaced by spontaneous action. Luke Smiles’ dynamic score shifts the atmosphere from hysterically funny to explosively athletic in an instant, combining the works of Nick Cave, Nine Inch Nails and Messerchups to great effect. The use of strobe lighting accents the dynamic, unpredictable choreography. Fresh from the Vienna International Dance Festival, this collaboration showcases what Australia has to offer in contemporary dance. 

Underground
October 23 – November 2
Performance Space, CarriageWorks
245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh
Tickets: $20-$30