With music by Hiatus Kayote, design from Tango Hiromi, 70km of salvaged wool and an inflatable stage, Dancenorth’s latest production is thrillingly inspired
Photograph: David KellyPhotograph: David KellyWith music by Hiatus Kaiyote, design from Hiromi Tango, 70km of salvaged wool and an inflatable stage, Dancenorth’s latest production is thrillingly inspiredorged across 52 years by the geographic and cultural isolation of its base in Townsville, Queensland, contemporary dance company Dancenorth is a masterclass on the imperative of connecting with an audience.
. The artist’s Rainbow Dream: Moon Rainbow saw long queues at Hobart’s Dark Mofo festival earlier this year, and she coined the term “brainbow” to describe the uplifting effect seeing them has on our psyche. These form a deluge of rainbow cords that turn one dancer into a “Cousin Itt”, and then are gathered into a giant roll. A towering textile sculpture crafted by Tango could be a creature, or coral, or a lighthouse at different times during the performance, while another vibrant set piece conjures a magic carpet ride that teeters from chill to thrilling. Each cast member’s patchwork tracksuit represents a hue of the colour spectrum, with a surprise celebratory costume change in the finale.
Often contemporary dance is set to mechanical sounds that can be alienating; this soundtrack is a welcome change. The languid vibe, warm melodies and hip grooves are entrancing, contrasting with energised percussive sections mirrored in hyperkinetic dance moves. Natural organic sounds inspire simple yet redolent imagery that fires the imagination: the dancers lying in a collapsed domino formation use their arms to conjure bird wings, multi-limbed insects and weightless sea creatures.
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