Entertainment

OzAsia Festival Review: Andropolaroid 1.1

A light show like nothing you’ve ever seen will have you mesmerised as vibrant glowing patterns are coordinated with a unique electronic soundtrack and energising contemporary dance in this luminescent solo dance performance.

Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre and Hotel Pro Forma
Reviewed 10 November 2018

A light show like nothing you’ve ever seen will have you mesmerised as vibrant glowing patterns are coordinated with a unique electronic soundtrack and energising contemporary dance in this luminescent solo dance performance.

The audience is suddenly jolted to attention as a stage full of precisely placed white, neon tubes shockingly light up the theatre. As a low humming fills the room a small dancer suddenly appears in varying spots around the stage with the hanging neon tubes capturing her presence within their random bursts of light. Her moves appear not just connected to the distinctive sounds, but seemingly controlled by the music with her body manipulated by the beat and the symphony of light bursts.

The dancer delicately weaves between the many hanging tubes, making sure not to bump or displace them from their motionless positions. The soundtrack includes loud and uncomfortable TV static and at times stops altogether so only a chilling whisper can be heard, placing the lone dancer on edge. The digitally-inspired music begins to intensify, building up to a bold, thumping drum beat and, in forced synchronisation, the dancer’s moves intensify too. Suddenly an over-sized red jumper spontaneously drops from the roof, crumpling into a pile on the floor and from here the dancer’s moves begin to change, rejecting the previous control of light and sound.

Berlin-based Japanese choreographer and contemporary dancer, Yui Kawaguchi, shows off her dancing prowess as she gracefully moves around the stage, weaving between the hanging lights. Born in Japan she studied a plethora of dance styles including classical ballet, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary dance, as well as acting and singing. Her performance draws in many elements of her diverse dance skills, providing the audience with a world-class performance.

The imaginative yet simple set combined with the choreographed light show are a technologically visual spectacle to behold and is a testament to freelance lighting designer, Fabian Bleisch. The German designer reminds the audience that you don’t need complexity to create something visually entrancing with his simplistic, yet perfectly coordinated, lighting design which mesmerises the audience. Bleisch predominantly works within the field of contemporary dance, performance and theatre and has participated in many national and international productions and Adelaide is lucky to taste a tantalising sample of his work.

This solo dance performance provides a unique moving light installation that will grab the audience’s attention and refuse to let go until the very last second.

Reviewed by Georgina Smerd
Twitter: @Georgie_xox 

Rating: 4/5

Season ended

 

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