She Dances in the Dark
Wed, 7 Sept 2011, 08:50 amGordon the Optom1 post in thread
She Dances in the Dark
Wed, 7 Sept 2011, 08:50 am‘She Dances in the Dark’ is performed by WAAPA trained dancer, Dawn Pascoe, who also has a Diploma in Circus Arts. It is a Natural Wings (World First) production being performed at the Blue Room Theatre, James Street, Northbridge. Performances until Saturday 24th September. All shows at 8.30 pm.
Dawn's achievements are numerous, having won Best Solo Show at Wellington Fringe Festival, appearing at Norway’s Sirkus, Landsbyen, and Perth’s Cirque Appétit at Fringe World’s Spiegel Tent 2011. Dawn’s aerial act has also been the opening entertainment to International fashion shows and festivals. The equally beautiful and talented, WAAPA trained musician, accordionist Nikki Dagostino, accompanies her.
The programme states that the act is open to interpretation and that everyone may experience something different. My reading of the presentation, is that it represents the early childhood years, however enjoy what you see.
In total darkness we can hear the shuffling of feet as the accordion, without notes, simply breathes in and out in the background. A brilliant light comes on and the young girl cringes with the brightness. She sees this long narrow passage leading towards the light, represented by the white silks hanging from the ceiling. She climbs the fabric and finds herself at the end of her birth canal. After the delivery, by a rolling Tissu descent, she goes down the umbilical cord and reaches the floor.
The first thing a child wants to do is play, and the little girl find a rack of clothes and, in a wonderful dressing-up passage accompanied by stirring accordion music, she gives us a brief history of the cinema. Ever wondered how the Abba girls got into their trouser suits – you will be given the remarkable answer.
Now hungry with all of the exercise, her jealous big sister (Nikki) feeds her poisoned food. The girl turns into a monster. Employing the stilts like those grotesquely used in ‘The of Julian Rose’ last year, Dawn took the whole act several stages further in skill and fear.
The monster, linked to a harness gave an amazingly creative, single point ‘trapeze’ presentation coupled with strenuous and dynamic rope work, as she threatened all around her with her spinning and flying manoeuvres.
The show finishes with a graceful static trapeze display, and yet after this dynamic and gruelling hour of athleticism, Dawn, still smiling appeared barely out of breath.
Laura Motherway’s direction was inventive and exciting. The act included some very comical scenes, horror and plenty of wow factors. There were times in the act when one wondered whether this athlete was magnetised. She just appeared to hang in space with no apparent hold on the ropes or silks.
Joe Lui’s lighting was subtle and, with well-chosen angles, captured the full effect of the performer’s magic. Good operation by Matt Marino.
Nikki’s accordion seemed to speak, or produce exactly the right mood.
It is a pity that this show has the later Blue Room slot, as - despite the horror slot – children would love it. The act is breathtaking, possibly more for the audience than the performers. The clowning is truly hilarious; the performance being packed with fun.
A most enjoyable show, not simply acrobatics but good storyline, acting and in several genres. Highly recommended for all of the family.
‘She Dances in the Dark’ is performed by WAAPA trained dancer, Dawn Pascoe, who also has a Diploma in Circus Arts. It is a Natural Wings (World First) production being performed at the Blue Room Theatre, James Street, Northbridge. Performances until Saturday 24th September. All shows at 8.30 pm.
Dawn's achievements are numerous, having won Best Solo Show at Wellington Fringe Festival, appearing at Norway’s Sirkus, Landsbyen, and Perth’s Cirque Appétit at Fringe World’s Spiegel Tent 2011. Dawn’s aerial act has also been the opening entertainment to International fashion shows and festivals. The equally beautiful and talented, WAAPA trained musician, accordionist Nikki Dagostino, accompanies her.
The programme states that the act is open to interpretation and that everyone may experience something different. My reading of the presentation, is that it represents the early childhood years, however enjoy what you see.
In total darkness we can hear the shuffling of feet as the accordion, without notes, simply breathes in and out in the background. A brilliant light comes on and the young girl cringes with the brightness. She sees this long narrow passage leading towards the light, represented by the white silks hanging from the ceiling. She climbs the fabric and finds herself at the end of her birth canal. After the delivery, by a rolling Tissu descent, she goes down the umbilical cord and reaches the floor.
The first thing a child wants to do is play, and the little girl find a rack of clothes and, in a wonderful dressing-up passage accompanied by stirring accordion music, she gives us a brief history of the cinema. Ever wondered how the Abba girls got into their trouser suits – you will be given the remarkable answer.
Now hungry with all of the exercise, her jealous big sister (Nikki) feeds her poisoned food. The girl turns into a monster. Employing the stilts like those grotesquely used in ‘The of Julian Rose’ last year, Dawn took the whole act several stages further in skill and fear.
The monster, linked to a harness gave an amazingly creative, single point ‘trapeze’ presentation coupled with strenuous and dynamic rope work, as she threatened all around her with her spinning and flying manoeuvres.
The show finishes with a graceful static trapeze display, and yet after this dynamic and gruelling hour of athleticism, Dawn, still smiling appeared barely out of breath.
Laura Motherway’s direction was inventive and exciting. The act included some very comical scenes, horror and plenty of wow factors. There were times in the act when one wondered whether this athlete was magnetised. She just appeared to hang in space with no apparent hold on the ropes or silks.
Joe Lui’s lighting was subtle and, with well-chosen angles, captured the full effect of the performer’s magic. Good operation by Matt Marino.
Nikki’s accordion seemed to speak, or produce exactly the right mood.
It is a pity that this show has the later Blue Room slot, as - despite the horror slot – children would love it. The act is breathtaking, possibly more for the audience than the performers. The clowning is truly hilarious; the performance being packed with fun.
A most enjoyable show, not simply acrobatics but good storyline, acting and in several genres. Highly recommended for all of the family.