Concrete Impermanence was performed as part of Dance Massive 2019 , The Substation and Adelaide Festival Centre 2018.
Image credit Sam Roberts dancer in image Amrita Hepi
Excerpts from world premiere of Concrete Impermanence at the Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre and Dancehouse Melbourne during Dance Massive
Choreographer and director: Alison Currie
Choreography in collaboration with the cast and Jessie Oshodi and Carlie Angel
Dancers: Alison Currie, Amrita Hepi, Lewis Rankin, Harrison Ritchie Jones and Stephen Sheehan*alternate casts - 3 performers
Sound: Alisdair Macindoe
Lighting Design: Matthew Adey
Audio Visual: Jason Lam: Kaboom
Costume: Anny Duff Goods Studios, shoes by All Birds
Creative Assistant: Carlie Angel
Creative Producer: Jason Cross
Set consultation: Stephen Hayter
Design consultation: Morag Cook
Technical sound support: Sascha Budimski
Objects: molo
Produced: Insite Arts
Supported by: LWDance Hub, Restless Dance Theatre, Arts SA, Australia Council for the Arts , All Birds , Adelaide Festival Centre , The Substation, and Dancehouse
*Jessie Oshodi was integral to the development of this performance.
Image credit Sam Roberts
'Concrete Impermanence' is a dance work for the stage performed by two dancers an actor and a series of set pieces of various sizes. Image credit Sam Roberts dancer in image Amrita Hepi
Concrete Impermanence talks of something that was stable being suddenly changed and how this can call into question ones entire understanding of the world. It speaks to how natural disaster and personal trauma can physically and physiologically change the world we live in.
Image credit Sam Roberts dancer Amrita Hepi
Abstract objects are used as a method of demonstrating a change outside ourselves and are created in varying scales to show our connection with the outside world, our impact on it and its impact on us.
Dancers Lewis Rankin, Amrita Hepi and Stephen Sheehan dance among the molo forms during rehearsal in this image by Sam Roberts
'Concrete Impermanence' has a rich and complex electronic sound score by Alisdair Macindoe which overlays the choreography, the stage is also mic'd to pick up the live movement of the dancers and the objects they move with at various points in the performance. The dancers perform with cardboard sculptural forms which are available to touch as part of the tour. Lara Torr from Access2Arts will be describing and we have been working together on developing the script for audio description.
Image credit Sam Roberts dancers Alison Currie and Harrison Ritchie-Jones
This performance is designed for deaf and hearing audiences. A screen in the set displays an abstract visual representation of key points in the sound score; this visual changes based on the volume, pitch and tempo of the music.
Jason Lam from Kaboom Studio developed the videos to Alisdair Macindoe’s sound score.
Image credit Sam Roberts dancers Lewis Rankin and Stephen Sheehan
Rodeo constructed this image for us from one of Jessie McKinlay photographs from an earlier development of the work with dancer Jessie Oshodi at LWDance Hub.
The world premiere of ‘Concrete Impermanence’ took place in May at the Adelaide Festival Centre with a subsequent performance at The Substation in August 2018 and Dancehouse March 2019.
“The sculptural forms punctuate both space and movement, provoking our imaginations. The successful integration of these multiple elements is a credit to Alison Currie, and all the creative team who assisted in the development and realisation of this performance. The dancers performed an energetic and dynamic experience of contemporary theatre that pushes the boundaries of dance.” Watts, P Broadway World 19 May 2018
Image credit Sam Roberts dancers Harrison Ritchie-Jones and Alison Currie
“Alison Currie’s premiere contemporary dance work, Concrete Impermanence, was intriguing, innovative, edgy and abstract, exploring the fragility of existence and the strength of the human spirit.” Kuljis, C Dance Life Australia 15th August 2018
Image credit Sam Roberts performer Stephen Sheehan
“There is intimacy but it is fleeting and falling apart. There is trauma: shaking and nausea under lurid yellow. There is rest but it doesn’t last. Choreographer Alison Currie is masterful, her vision is reflective and does not force itself.” Lowry, G Melbourne Critique 16 August 2018
Image credit Sam Roberts dancer Alison Currie
Image credit Kel Mocilnik
Image credit Kel Mocilnik
Image credit Kel Mocilnik
For more information please contact
producer Jason Cross jason@insitearts.com.au
or director Alison Currie alisonjcurrie@yahoo.com.au
Image credit Jessie McKinlay taken during a residency development at LWDance Hub