A dance party for the end of time. May it never end. What a blast. Move over contemporary dance – the Inter Asian mob are in town.
The creator Eun-Me Ahn (also Artistic Directior, Choreographer, Set and Costume Designer) explains in length in the program notes her approach to what she calls “inter asia” expression. She invites hybrid expression in other parts of the world – an Egyptian choreographer re-appropriating Ethiopian tradition – in doing so she commends a new energy and creativity that breaks the homogenous gaze of the West towards the rest of the world, or in her case the East.
Her show is indeed post Orientalist as much as post modern. Other traditions become a toolkit – in her case Japan, Bali and the Philippines – in a dynamic, refreshed energy and vision. Should one stop and ask what happened to cultural determinism that informs much of the Australian theatre scene – increasingly works are constrained by the identity of their creators and crew.
With POST ORIENTALIST EXPRESS one cannot stop. After the laconic tease of the opening segments, the young, athletic, attractive and dynamic dancers hurl themselves in numerous sequences, with 90 audacious, colourful, spangly costumes, tribal base and funk beat music, and irrepressible suites of dance steps that constantly alert and burst in elegant brittleness. The work is unapologetic and irresistible, with suitable contrasting homage to “Asian” meditation towards its end.
Somewhere along its creative trajectory content might have been left aside in the rush for intense choreography, but what does it matter when the outcome is one of joy, uplift and fun. Watching the performance is like seeing blocks, figures, costumes and set through a kaleidoscope, with the tube constantly being turned.
In an age of team production, it is impressive to see the creator’s auteur roles, in Artistic Direction, Choreography, Set and costume design. The set in itself with very complex lighting design was a pleasure to behold.
It is possible to feel the work was a little spasmodic in its episodic fragmentation, butterfly style. The party might not go on to dawn.
But it would be a churlish viewer who was not infected by this infusing work. Minutes of standing ovation – it doesn’t get much better.
I was there on Friday night and we were lucky enough to have a qanda with the artistic director. The show as Geoff says is ‘spectacular’ utterly brilliant too!