Save The Last Dance For Me
Polka Chinata is a fast Italian courtship dance for two men, originating from Bologna only a hundred year ago, then almost forgotten until 2018 when choreographer Alessandro Sciarroni revived the tradition.
His dancers, Gianmaria Borzillo and Gianfrancesco Giannini, learnt the traditional moves of this physically demanding polka, and they’re currently performing it, for just 20 minutes, at locations around the Sydney Festival.
Opening in Sydney Town Hall’s sumptuous reception, the two gravely, ritualistically, take each other’s hand and dance around a square, with one and then both twirling the other. Their style and formal dance code suggest old images of gay men dancing in illegal venues, but here is nothing feminine, mannered or unpolished.
They break the square and briefly spin separately, but gather pace as they clench each’s elbows, balance weight and together crouch and spin so low their knees near the ground. Chinata translates as “crouched”. It’s an exhilarating whirlwind to watch.
And exhausting for them. Through the sheen of sweat they finally begin to smile and for the first time look fully at each other. The musical rhythms are played out with small drums and percussion, and once a beautiful piano addition. Now as they circle, each alternatively leaps high without breaking hold of the other: it’s a joyously folk highlight and they share its exhilaration with us till the end.
Martin Portus
Photographer: Stephen Wilson Barker
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