Aftermath | ADC

reviewdance

9 Sep

Aftermath is a sonic journey of human bodies synchronising through smoke, sound, space and situational moments using contemporary dance backed by an original electronic score, the theme grabs hold and asks, ‘What happens to our collective consciousness in an Aftermath?’.

If you gravitate to stark shifting moods and the intensity of hard house, industrial electro and trance, creating that inexplicable feeling when you get high just on the rush of breaking free, then you will love the score by Danny Harley who performs live in the round and the response by the dancers. His style is reminiscent of warehouse parties sampled with a sparse narrative.

Is this show tackling an exploration of self and the herd through a jail break? The chains rattle and the group often breaks into solo performances and back to sync; or are they a gang of lost souls stuck in a post-apocalyptic world fighting potential threats, traversing the impacts of the human psyche. Perhaps they are a fierce rebel gang or a group of friends on a night out terrified and curious fuelled by a high-octane environment? The explosion of the physical is a captivating feature of this work belied by dominance, separation and connection. Are we alone or together?

"Have you forgotten yet"? Is the only spoken word throughout this performance. I did not find an answer to this question.

The score is complex, pushing us to travel realms and the most human of sounds, the rhythm of our heart beating and directing the audience towards the revelation of hope that is only short lived when nothing is what it should be in this world. Aftermath plays with sparse interpretations which are intriguing and pieced together through provocations of fear, perceived threats, confusion, and relationships - nevertheless the performance is engaging through the dynamic shifts of music and the athletic skill of the dancers, an understated production and costumes that don’t reveal the narrative.

If you love dance for dance’s sake, you will enjoy this work.

contemporary danceADCbrisfest22

Harmonie Downes

Harmonie is a creative consultant working in the Creative Industries and community and disability sectors. Harmonie specialises in inclusive and accessible arts practice, events and business strategy for artists. She has worked as a ceramic artist in her own practise, as an artworker, as a touring musician and ensemble facilitator, booking agent, mentor and marketer for creatives, festival director, producer and stage manager for large scale complex festivals, small to medium events and major performing arts venues across the country, a grant assessor for organisations and is on a couple of boards and steering committees.

Aftermath | ADC

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