White Light
May 7 - 11 2007
Earl Arts Centre, Launceston
Leven Theatre, Ulverstone
St Michael's Collegiate Performing Arts Centre, Hobart
Choreography: Emma Porteus and Jay Watson
Production/Stage Manager: Darren Willmott
Costumes: Frith Loone
Dancers: Leisa Barber, Ellie Breen, Emmah Burtt-Stone, Lasca Dry, Shannyn Foon, ali Gay, Nina Giblin, Justin Groves, Jarran Harris, Brianna Machen, Lisa McConnon, Morgan Meyer, Lauren Nevin, Rachel Parker, Brooke Saward and Cameron Sibly.
Choreography: Fiona Reilly
Production/Stage Manager: Darren Willmott
Costumes: Tracie Leslie and Frith Loone
Dancers: Floeur Alder, Trisha Dunn, Malcolm McMillan, James Shannon and Tanya Voges.
"This work contained a beautiful balance of satisfying shapes as the dancers represented people, the ice and creatures, all buffeted by the icy elements. This was dnaces beautifully and had poetic power."
Suzie Bower, The Examiner, Tuesday May 8, 2007
White Light is an exciting double bill featuring two new shows that explore Antarctica and celebrate International Polar Year. Each work reflects the extreme, but exquisite beauty of Antarctica: a continent forever destined to be at the hands of the devastating winds and treacherous oceans.
The first work, White Light, will feature a production performed by 16 of the states most promising dancers choreographed by Emma Porteus and Jay Watson while the second work, Ice Ocean is choreographed by Fiona Reilly featuring the Tasdance ensemble.
Over the past two months choreographers Emma Porteus and Jay Watson have travelled the state seeking a company of young dancers. They undertook 31 workshops out of the 500 plus students they selected 16 dancers through an audition process.
Emma Porteus says of White Light, "It is an impressionistic and emotional response to Antarctica. The result is a collection of images woven together to create a journey that reflects the dramatic nature of the landscape we seek to portray".
Fiona Reilly says of the second work, Ice Ocean, "As the sun returns to the frozen land it sheds light and warmth. All life becomes active and the ice itself shifts and reforms. Then the wind blows with such a terrible force that the very foundations shift. Dancers are swept up and away from their tenuous grip on the icy terrain."
This project was made possible by the generous support of The Estate of the Late WD Booth, The WD Booth Charitable Trust