Elastic Hearts – Featuring the Music of Sia

Elastic Hearts is captivating, exhilarating and profoundly moving from the moment the curtain lifts to the final bow. Set to the unmistakable music of Sia, reimagined with stunning orchestral arrangements by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, this production by Queensland Ballet is a bold, vibrant celebration of movement, music and emotion (and it’s super cool too!). The music alone is breathtaking, swelling through the theatre with cinematic depth and perfectly underscoring the choreography. The vision and arrangement are inspired, and if an album ever appears, it would be an instant download.

The choreography by Garry Stewart is masterful, imaginative, surprising and bursting with creativity. Each piece connects intuitively to Sia’s music, translating her raw emotional depth and rhythmic drive into movement that is powerful, playful and deeply human. From the joyful pulse of Cheap Thrills to the haunting a cappella rendition of Elastic Heart, every section feels purposeful and evocative. The ensemble of fourteen dancers performs with extraordinary athleticism and precision, while the commanding Gaia-like figure radiates grace, strength and spirit.

Visually, the production is spectacular. A sweeping white sculptural wave dominates the stage, creating endless possibilities for dancers to appear, disappear, slide and soar. Giant flowers, a massive sculptural pink heart, huge flags, and sheer forest-printed curtains build layers of movement and light. Highlights include the breathtaking choreography to Titanium and the emotional resonance of Breathe Me (complete with perfectly synchronised breath work). The showstopping Chandelier number sees dancers swinging from chandeliers and has the audience erupting in spontaneous applause. The energy of The Greatest and Unstoppable is fierce and uplifting, and Move Your Body has the entire audience clapping along in infectious joy.

The striking fuchsia costumes add to the impact of every movement, enhanced by signature blonde Sia wigs that capture the singer’s iconic aesthetic, blur gender, and heighten a sense of unity. The Gaia gown is a spectacular piece of quilted animal artistry, unfurling to nearly the full width of the stage as the dancers perform behind it, creating a dramatic and mesmerising visual effect. Together with evocative lighting, they create a world that is fierce, beautiful and unapologetically bold. The entire concept, every element, from movement to set, lighting and music, feels deliberate, cohesive and utterly captivating.

An unforgettable fusion of contemporary dance and the music of Sia, Elastic Hearts is a triumph of contemporary dance at its most exciting, accessible and inspiring, a thrilling fusion of pop, dance, and visual art that pulses with energy and joy. It’s no wonder it has HOTA audiences leaping to their feet to offer well-deserved, full-house standing ovations. Catch it at HOTA if you can, but word is this remarkable production will also be coming to Brisbane in 2026. My elastic heart is full, bouncing with love for this inventive, beautiful and uplifting work.

Tamzin Lockhart

Photography by David Kelly