Dance X (The Australian Ballet), at Arts Centre Melbourne
- Alex First
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
What distinguishes Dance X is creativity and excellence in diverse forms of movement and the emotion it generates.
Make no mistake, feelings surface and explode – that is certainly true in my case. There is a primal connection to the art form.
In a special fortnight of dance at Arts Centre Melbourne, I started with the first week’s program at the Playhouse.
Photo by Stephen A'Court (front page photo by Amber Haines)
Te Ao Marama is a powerful and deeply evocative work involving 12 dancers from the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
It is a production that was created by Moss Te Ururangi Patterson for the company’s 70th anniversary in 2023.
All the dancers are dressed only in black pants (sans tops and shoes).
Eerie and disconcerting sounds, coupled with a potent monochrome background featuring a variety of shapes, develop into a tribal, aggressive haka.
As the piece evolves, there is vocalisation – breathwork – and high energy.
Te Ao Marama embraces strong Māori culture celebrated in Aotearoa.
Photo by Kate Longley
A classical musical bed underpins the next work.
Five couples, including the leads, perform traditional balletic moves in The Australian Ballet and The Australian Ballet School’s Allegro Brillante.
It is one of George Balanchine’s most joyous, pure dance pieces, featuring fine choreography at pace, including high leaping and pirouettes.
Set to Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 75, a mixture of solo, pas de deux and company numbers showcase a talented ensemble.
Photo by Matt Byrne
After interval, Restless Dance Theatre takes to the stage with Seeing Through Darkness.
Choreographed by Michelle Ryan, it reveals that disability does not impede fluidity of movement in dance.
Accompanied by violin and cello, the immersive performance was inspired by the intensity of George Rouault’s expressionist paintings.
The piece weaves together music, dance, lighting and moving images, silhouettes of the dancers looming large at the back of the stage.
Before this is over, these silhouettes become a cavalcade of bright colours, comforting, playful – a celebration of life.
Photo by Kate Longley
An act in two parts, Lucy Guerin’s Ground Control with The Australian Ballet features four dancers contrasting strength and power with lightness.
The music transitions from drum beats to the angelic as one dancer deliberately stops midway through to don a pair of pointe shoes.
From the ceiling then floats the lightest of coloured netting – tulle – that envelopes her like a warm embrace.
Also striking is another dancer clothed entirely in the prettiest of light greens.
Photo by David Kelly
And to conclude a captivating evening, Dancenorth Australia’s Wayfinder is a fusion of dance, music and visual art.
Hundreds of rainbow-coloured cords drop on the eight exuberant performers from on high and become their playthings as the work develops.
It is wonderful, visually stunning, alluring.
Words are unnecessary as it is all in the movement and interactions, which summon awe and wonder.
Photo by Kate Longley
Dance X Festival of Dance is on at Arts Centre Melbourne until 19th October, 2025 at three venues: Playhouse, Fairfax Studio and The Showroom.
Program 1 finishes on 11th October and program 2 extends from 15th to 19th October.
For more information and to book, just Google Dance X Festival Melbourne.