Collision | Casus Circus & Mad Dance House
Collision is an interesting experimental show that combines street dance and circus acrobatics. Three performers from Mad House and three from Casus Circus met on the new stage of Metro Arts in West End to connect – with a lot of humour - two peculiar physical art practices.
I am an enthusiast of circus acrobatics and hip hop dance, but admittedly I never thought of these two next to one another. Both these physical practices involve impressive feats, but they engage bodies very differently. Bodies in circus acrobatics move vertically, and “slow” is the magic word. Hip hop relies on quick feet, isolations, and power moves. And while circus acrobatics and hip hop dance are so different, I was pleased to see how they were harmonised in Collision.
All images: Aaron Walker
The most amusing part of the show in my opinion was when Sam Evans’s world of drops and floor rocks collided with Riley Conquilst’s handstands and contortionism. The performers where copying each other’s moves but maintaining their own style. The results were very comic.
I admired how the hip hop performers took on the challenges of circus acrobatics. Particularly remarkable was the act where hip hop dancer Wanida Serce did a “three-high” and stood on the shoulders of Ela Bartilimo who was standing on the shoulders of Amy Stuart. This is a move that takes courage even for trained circus performers.
The show also allowed the performers to shine in their own discipline. The three hip hop dancers did a few acts of breakdance on their own. Ben Garcia gave a jaw-dropping display of spins and power moves, and Sam Evan’s robot was funny and tremendously skilful. Ela Bartilimo and Riley Conquilst did a playful duo on the canes, and Ela Bartilimo performed on the areal rope.
Unexpectedly, Bartilimo fell off the rope worrying the whole audience. She suspended her rope performance but after a short break, she was back on stage and finished the show. It was admirable to see the resilience of this performer. Her fall was a reminder of the dangerous nature of circus. As Metro Arts CEO and creative director Jo Thomas said as the end of the show, Bartilimo’s fall is a reminder that artists are on the front-line for our entertainment and amusement. I appreciated that Thomas talked about this at the end of the show because it showed Metro Arts’ genuine care for the artists and also prompted a reflection that art performance is a work of love as much as a job.
At the end of the show, director of Casus Circus Natano Fa’anana also gave a short speech to thank the performers and honour the collaboration with Mad House. He confessed that this show was 10 years in the making and we are very glad that it finally went on stage.
All images: Aaron Walker
