Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School: The Gathering -
Merlyn Theatre, Malthouse, 5 September -
It is always a real delight to see the freshness and joy of a passionate and well-trained cohort of young dancers. Students from the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) are all of this, and proved it in their season of “The Gathering”.
A diverse and joyous program in the first half flew from Maggie Lorraine's The Games We Played, a highly energised tribute to childhood game-playing, to some technically and interpretively challenging solos from students at different levels. It then took a side-step into an ensemble tap routine that the students clearly relished and ended in a tribute in film and live dance to the work of long-serving and extremely influential VCASS jazz teacher, Barbara Warren-Smith, on the eve of her retirement from her current position.
The ensemble work was clean and precise throughout. Choreography was challenging while remaining sensitive to the students’ level of training and developmental stages. The first work showcased the dynamism and discipline of the junior students and allowed them to exhibit their strength in jumping, turning and inhabiting space together. Multiple entries and exits allowed for brief, explosive moments for individuals and groups to command the stage.
The solos were varied and included both classical and contemporary styles. Tyson Powell’s contemporary solo showed astonishing finesse. His strength, control, and presence were impressive as was his absolute embodiment of the work. Looking at the program notes, I was doubly impressed to see that Powell's beautiful and mature solo is his own choreography. Georgia Swan was lovely in her interpretation of the Queen of the Dryads from Don Quixote. She conveyed delicacy and assurance of technique and was a pleasure to watch.
The explosion of funky tap (Paul Davis's Fabulous, Funky, Feet) followed by Barbara Warren-Smith's Retrospective, were fitting and celebratory inclusions in this part of the program. Warren-Smith's choreography for Hairspray had the audience struggling to stay seated and smiling from ear to ear.
The second half of the evening began with Tim Harbour's Volante. Beautifully danced, this work has a cool modernist feel that suited the performers well. Adding depth to the work was the presence on stage of twin pianos, where musicians accompanied the dance with movements from Philip Glass's Four Movements for Two Pianos. This score is an ingenious choice for conveying the crisp, elegance of the choreography and supplying its driving rhythm.
Seeing the senior students transform from their previous showbiz personas into accomplished transmitters of modern classicism reminded us of their versatility. The soloists were exceptional; Tyson Powell and Georgia Swan reasserted their command of the audience while Joseph Miller and Kate Arber claimed their own limelight. Arber displayed a lovely lightness combined with an elegant demeanour that was well-suited to the piece.
In Adrian Ricks's work, A Year in the Life of... year ten soloists, Grace West and Edward Pope impressed. West was given a spectacular solo, which allowed her technique to shine while Pope revealed masterful phrasing and strong, accomplished grand allegro, especially in his jumped turns.
The final piece was Natalie Weir's The Gathering. Tribal in feel, it gave the senior students a chance to demonstrate their accomplished partnering as well as their interpretative abilities. Weir's choreography demands a sustained lyricism within and between its dynamic shifts and emotional re-calibrations. Students negotiated these modulations well and a number were given the chance to exhibit their individual strengths. Soloists were impressive. Nathan Lightbody demonstrated the range and strength of a polished dancer. Briannah Davis and Anthony Sheppard made a strong pairing in the duo. The lifts conveyed a drama-infused elegance, with beautifully elongated limbs and dignified stillness in the held poses. Jayde Ryan-Hellingman brought an understated but deep yearning quality to her solo. There was a mesmerised, calm violence to her interpretation.
VCASS presented an excellent showcase for its dance students to reveal their considerable talents in its programming for “The Gathering”, making for a very enjoyable evening of dance.
- SUSAN BENDALL