LET’S HAVE A BALL
GOLD Coast’s premier arts event Bleach* Festival will officially get under way tonight, and Dancenorth (pictured) can’t wait to bounce into action.
THE Bleach* Festival on the Gold Coast got a bounce yesterday as Dancenorth rehearsed their latest work.
Tectonic, by the acclaimed Townsville-based outfit, is an intriguing performance installation with dancers bouncing around on 180 fit balls embedded in the sand at Burleigh Beach.
Even rehearsals yesterday pulled a crowd although tonight’s performances will have their ups and downs.
Dancenorth artistic director Kyle Page says audiences can expect something spectacular.
“The dancers get a huge spring from the balls and they’ll be doing backflips and all sorts of moves, getting extraordinary elevation from the balls,” Page says.
“This work had its world premiere in Townsville last year and thousands came along and enjoyed it. The beautiful thing is it is outdoors and site specific so there’s not the usual theatre etiquette. You don’t have to sit there in silence.”
The 180 fit balls represent the 180 inhabitants of tiny Poruma Island in the Torres Strait where Dancenorth has performed and worked with the local community.
Tectonic celebrates that community but also highlights the effects on the island of rising sea levels – hence the semi-submerged fit balls and proximity to the ocean for performances.
There will be two free shows each night (6.30pm and 7.30pm) until Sunday and kids get to bounce on the balls for free between 9am and 10am daily and as a finale next Monday there’ll be a free jump and play day on the artwork.
Bleach*, which kicks off today is one of the state’s premier arts events and this year features a range of intriguing acts including The Farm’s work Throttle which is billed as a “drive in live action movie with a difference”. There will be a concert headlined by ARIAaward winning songstress Montaigne, Strut & Fret Production House’s burlesque hit Limbo Unhinged in the Spiegeltent at Broadbeach and opera lovers can enjoy Verdi’s Requiem at HOTA, Surfers Paradise on April 27.
Bleach Festival 2019 is on at various Gold Coast venues until April 28.