The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present two vibrant performances of "Wayfinder" by Dancenorth Australia in September, which will be the programme's premiere outside Australia. Dancenorth Australia, recognised as one of Australia's leading performing arts companies, will make use of physical exuberance, sonic resonance and collective exhilaration to lead the audiences to feel the matters of the universe and enter a transcending world, pointing the way to a better life.
"Wayfinder" is a combination of dance, music and visual arts. With a specially designed inflatable stage, performers can dance seamlessly with various gravity-defying movements. The ingenious music arrangement interwoven with strong band sound and graceful melody will bring a joyful and infectious performance together with the lively performance by dancers. The work will also incorporate interactive elements in which 100 pieces of light and sound-emitting "pearls" will be pre-set in the auditorium, with a view to extending the entire experience to every corner of the venue and enabling the audience to immerse in sound and light.
Meanwhile, the whole work is connected by rainbow-like cords woven by local Australian volunteers using second-hand wool yarns, which draw people closer together through community engagement and arts. The cords are used to form large-scale set pieces on stage as well as props for the dancers. The cords are sometimes being put together to form a torrent of colours, and sometimes being swung into different wave patterns, which creates resonance among the weavers, the dancers and even the audiences. The production received critical acclaim at its world premiere at the Brisbane Festival in September last year and was hailed by Australian newspaper "Courier-Mail" as "transcendental".
The creative team of "Wayfinder" is formed by a pool of artistic talents. The production was directed and choreographed by Amber Haines and Kyle Page while the scintillating music composition was jointly created by three-time Grammy-nominated Australian band Hiatus Kaiyote and sound artist Byron J. Scullin. Lighting was designed by Niklas Pajanti while set and costume were designed by Japanese-Australian visual artist Hiromi Tango.
Dancenorth Australia is deeply committed to creating adventurous works. Its creations are thoughtfully conceived and highly acclaimed. The company has received various awards, including two Helpmann Awards, two Australian Dance Awards, two Green Room Awards, the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Group Award, and the PAC Australia Impact Award. It has presented works in over 45 international arts festivals and venues around Australia and the world.
"Wayfinder" by Dancenorth Australia will be staged at 8pm on September 9 (Saturday) and 4pm on September 10 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Tickets priced at $180, $280 and $380 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288.
The programme's extended activities include a meet-the-artist session in English which will be held after the first performance, and a backstage guided tour (in English with Cantonese interpretation) to be held at 2.15pm on September 10 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Participants will be able to take a closer look at the woven set, the inflatable stage, the "pearls" installation and more. Advance online registration is required on the programme website. Limited quota is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For programme enquiries, extended activities and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/programs_1594.html.
