If Only I Could

From the gorgeous opening strains of ‘Lean on Me’ by Bill Withers to Steppenwolf’s rocking ‘Born to be Wild’ finale, If Only I Could reminds us of the importance of music and dance in our creative and emotional lives – and why we must never let that fade and diminish. Directed by Angela Chaplin, this unique dance performance is presented by QPAC and Lutheran Services. It is a moving, funny, inspiring performance of movement and dance pieces created over the past five years as part of a programme to introduce older people to the benefits of dance. But it was always designed to be performed to an audience.

Professional dance artists, Alicia De Le Fuente, Nadia Milford, Olivia Rooney and Jacob Watton are joined by residents from Lutheran Services’ Tabeel Aged Care, Michael Bailey, Joan Cumner, Jennifer McCue, Rosie Mercer, Maxwell Oyston, Angus Polzin who all prove that age is not a barrier to creativity and star power. Many of these brave and inspiring performers have not been on a stage before – until this show was performed for residents, then at the Judith Wright Arts Centre in 2018 and the Laidley Cultural Centre in 2021 – and some of the senior dancers admit that they were either not allowed to dance when they were younger or they just got out of the habit.

Director Angela Chaplin’s vast experience with a range of theatre companies and styles shows to advantage as the dance and movement pieces use many different techniques – from simple, superbly lit, hand movement to use of mobility wheeled walkers as dancing props and almost puppet characters. The performance is aided by Movement Director, Lizzie Vilmanis, Dance Therapist and Creative Programs Advisor at Lutheran Services, Clare Apelt, and insightful, funny and moving pre-filmed pieces by videographer, Tnee Dyer, with atmospheric lighting courtesy of Lighting Designer, Glenn Hughes. Spoiler alert: there may also be a celebratory glitter bomb, so make sure you sit near the front!

One scene uses mime and movement to enact a scene at a care home where a couple (Olivia Rooney and Jacob Watton) have an explosive argument while their senior family members (played to the hilt by Jennifer McCue and Joan Cumner) look on bemused. The series of pieces are a satisfying mix, set to popular songs and classical music. Some are emotional – such as Angus Polzin’s heartfelt and moving opening piece with Nadia Milford to ‘Lean on Me’; others have a workshop feel as they explore the realities of losing mobility; some are simply delightful, such as the group’s ‘Singing in the Rain’, with Michael Bailey stealing hearts with his Gene Kelly swagger.

The group pieces were very successful, and duos featuring professional dancers paired with the newcomer collaborators worked very well to show the elegance of synchronised movement and the satisfaction of seeing people work hard at their creative endeavours. Rosie Mercer, Jennifer McCue and Joan Cumner should all be poster girls for the benefits of dance – each time their faces lit up in a smile, they looked 20 years younger than their ages printed in the show’s programme!

As a self-confessed show-off, Maxwell Oyston, took to centre stage to showcase his rocking moves for the finale to ‘Born to be Wild’ and the whole group were joined on stage by backstage crew and members of the audience – a fitting conclusion to this energetic performance piece that invites everyone to enjoy dance! It’s a good thing I had a Bollywood dance class to attend after the show, because this show’s performers will inspire you to get out there and find a dance group and enjoy yourself.

The final shows of If Only I Could are at QPAC on Saturday 29 October at 11am and 2.30pm.

Find out more: https://www.qpac.com.au/event/ifonlyicould22/

Beth Keehn

Photographer: Darren Thomas