DANCE: ASZURE BARTON

BY AMELIA GROOM

One and half weeks away from the opening of her new commission for Sydney Dance Company, I caught up with Canadian-born New York-based choreographer Aszure Barton, who was working intensely to finalise the production. ‘It’s coming along pretty well,’ she said, ‘we’re just bringing all the pieces of the puzzle together.’

‘The SDC dancers have been working with various guest choreographers from far and wide this year – the last one was with [Spanish choreographer] Rafael Bonachela – and they’ve experienced a wide range of styles and approaches,’ said Aszure.

‘What I really wanted to do for my production was to get back to their roots and their personal histories within the company. Obviously as the choreographer I am shaping it, there are things I like and don’t like, but I always try to draw from who the dancers are.

‘This company has been through so much, especially in the last year, so I want to keep their experiences and personalities in it. The most interesting part of the process is developing a vocabulary with the individual dancers – building it up with all their different personalities, and then chipping it away at it to make it a whole, coherent piece.’

With costumes by Sydney fashion designer Michelle Jank, Azsure’s inaugural commission for an Australian dance company is set to be an innovative, theatrical and vibrant show. The night will also feature a short work by dancer/choreographer Reed Luplau, as part of the Overture Series, an SDC initiative that exists for the encouragement of new choreographers.

Aszure Barton
October 4 ‘ 25
CarriageWorks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh
Tickets: $40-$70, 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au