ArtSpoken & Reviews
My View: Dance Umbrella: elev(i)ateFNB Dance Umbrella 201003/10/2010 10:11:54 
Robyn Sassen: Strong girl Athena segues humour with deep poignancy, brilliantly in "elev(i)ate". It is not every day that you see a small female dancer lift a huge man and gently sway and jive with him on her back. "elev(i)ate" is one of those inspired and frabjous pieces that shadow punch at the whole history of dance, entertainment and exercises of public shows of strength while it seemingly effortlessly touches and holds that chord in audiences that other works sweat for and often miss altogether. "elev(i)ate" is an interactive piece. It comprises two designated routes to being "unloaded" and in truth, to being elevated in more ways than one. It's also a sporadic piece, a filler, if you will, depending on a fluid audience, between shows. And the promise: this dancer will lift you up. Seems pretty silly? Well, it is, so silly that it's profound. Powered by electricity - as you stand on the first panel, the pathway to the second lights up - and by computer technology - a small rudimentary demonstration of types of bodily lifts gives Mazarakis a couple of seconds to quickly pragmatically assess the body she's about to lift, without busting her own gut. As the participant enters the lifting zone, a live video feed is projected on the wall, showing the interaction between Mazarakis and the participant from all angles. Significantly, at the head of the participant a whole stream of words flows on the projection. "Release" says one. "Loss, partner, debt, load-shedding, promises, yesterday ..." it continues. Music and words and images all flow together with faux dramatic suddenness, lending the choreography funniness, predictability and narrative. And then she does her thing and the lifted participant, returned to terra firma leaves, stage right. It's over in a matter of seconds and yet, yet, there is something deep and rich which captures the heart of participant and viewer alike. It's that gesture of elevation and alleviation. Simultaneously. The guy holding an open blue floral umbrella posed, hoisted as he was in mid-air. His eyes were glassed over. He was in truth no longer before an audience goading him on. He was elsewhere: he was free. Malcolm Purkey participated: whatever else might be he is not a sylph. He emerges from the audience jokingly: it's a gesture to show that even the artistic director of the Market Theatre is not too chicken to take part. But then it happens, and while he's rocking softly on Mazarakis' back, his eyes are closed, his issues folded momentarily within themselves. As she puts him down, he doesn't engage jocularly with his audience. He moves off, not giving us a second look - the work has clearly touched him deep. "elev(i)ate" is a tiny gesture of a piece, but so far the most outrageously moving on Dance Umbrella 2010. "elev(i)ate" created by Athena Mazarakis and Tegan Bristow, with design by Carol Preston (lighting), Jenni-Lee Crewe (costume and props), Anton Coetzee (interactive media support) and Ashleigh Harris (music). Performed by Athena Mazarakis and members of the audience. Front of House, Market Theatre, Newtown. Robyn Sassen FNB Dance Umbrella 2010 info@frodo.co.za 011 023 8160 084 319 7844 Web site: http://www.artslink.co.za/arts
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