The Red Shoes

When guest artist Sam Colbey as the Dark Angel burst onto the stage last night he gave The Red Shoes a dynamic shot in the arm. Dressed in a black leotard and whispy black coat, he leapt, slid, crawled and spiralled as he cast his spell over the ballerina Victoria. It was an explosive entrance and what followed was one of the best performances of the night. Among the others was the exemplary work of the five musicians who made up the Southern Cross Soloists, particularly violinist Victoria Sayles, who was as much a part of the evening’s success as the dancers.

Natalie Weir’s decision to base her ballet on one of the most beloved ballet movies of all time was bold indeed. Like the movie, her version is played out as a play-within-a-play and shows how the onstage life of a dancer begins to infiltrate her off-stage life. It’s very, very loosely based on the Hans Christian Anderson gothic fairytale. Using dance, music and some arresting film sequences to tell the story, this world premiere production succeeds on many levels.

As the ballerina Elise May has the looks, style and grace the demanding role requires and excelled in her spectacular dancing in the dream sequence. The same sequence also provided Benjamin Chapman as The Weeping Angel with a chance to shine. Jack Ziesing as Victoria’s lover was an athletic and amorous partner and handled some difficult lifts and poses with ease. Natalie Allen as the older more mature Mirror Victoria brought an unmistakable depth of experience to the part, whilst Rebecca Hall as Young Victoria displayed a young woman with a desperate desire to succeed. Equally impressive was Daryl Brandwood as a classic Svengali-like Director.

Tania Frazer’s choice of music, from Giovanni Allevi and Dario Marianelli to Bach and Rachmaninov, was excellent as was Brett Cheney’s sound. Bruce McKinven’s design with its cracked mirrors in various shapes was the perfect metaphor for the piece, while Matt Scott’s lighting was moody and striking. The performance also included 10 student dancers from QUT whose ensemble dancing on pointe in red dresses was a highlight.

The Red Shoes is Expressions Dance Company’s 30^th anniversary production and as such is a fitting tribute to its creator Natalie Weir and the company who have done so much for contemporary dance theatre.

Peter Pinne

Images: Chris Herzfeld, Camlight Productions