On Friday the 2nd June we performed a preview of our upcoming world premiere Edinburgh Fringe Festival production of Perfect Pairing: A Wine Tasting Dancegustation at the Geelong Arts Centre Limelight Studio. The entire double cast of the show performed in 2 of the 4 numbers each and audience members of the sold-out preview tasted a selection of wines that matched the journey our Edinburgh audience will taste. We also shared the stage with Project Connect and their preview of a/lone (featuring our very own Xavier McGettigan).
Perfect Pairing Wine Curator and Presenter Laura Viva introducing the first wine to the preview audience. Photo by Sandy Gray.
We were lucky enough to have independent reviewer Lucas Ioppolo attend the preview to write us a review in anticipation of our international debut, and you can see his write-up of both Perfect Pairing and a/lone by clicking here or by reading below:
Travelled out to Geelong for a publicity only night on Friday to watch the world premiere of two dance showcases ready to make their big stage debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe later this year, Perfect Pairing and A/Lone. It was definitely a new experience for me to witness a presentation that wasn't a play or musical and focused solely on dance, especially since dancing is my weakest area in the performance triple threat, but that's another story. What I did discover, however, was that despite no lyrics to sing and hardly any dialogue to recite, the art of dance could visually tell a story just as effectively. Certain themes may be hard to get across to an audience when it's only movement that's being utilised but in both dance showcases, I and the rest of the audience, were greeted with incredible stories that covered a whole range of emotions in the best ways possible.
Cast members Sarah Glynne, Emily Jacker-Lawrence, Xavier Robertson and Monique Powe dancing gleefully for the Perfect Pairing preview audience. Photo by Sandy Gray.
The first showcase of the night was Perfect Pairing, a sensually satisfying feast that came with a shot of the finest wines to add to the experience of feeling what each dancer was trying to convey with their contemporary styled movements. As director and choreographer, Xavier McGettigan demonstrated his deep and profound knowledge on the wines and bubblies of the world to create a fun and freedom filled atmosphere that delivered pleasure in the purest forms. We, the audience, were first introduced to some bubbly to quite literally get the party started before we gradually levelled up to more serious and sophisticated wines for the grand finale. By the time the last drop of liquor left our lips and every routine was delivered, we had been delighted with every visual, sound, touch, taste and aroma imaginable that was arguably better than sex one could only read in erotica. McGettigan was joined on stage by fellow dancers Tara O'Donnell, Sarah Glynne, Monique Powell, Corey Dyer, Emily Jacker-Lawrence, Xavier Robertson and Madeline Pratt to tingle all five senses with choreography that was the definition of any individual described as the life of the party. Whether the routines were suited for the club, the discotheque, the stage, the bar or even the comfort of your own home, each dancer conveyed a variety of themes like pride, promiscuity, pretension, promise, purpose and a bit of prayer as we held on to each step and watched chemicals react. Metaphorically, it felt like we had ingested the sweetest of candy, smelled the strongest of perfumes, heard the healthiest of heartbeats in a performance that was inviting and integrating.
“delighted with every visual, sound, touch, taste and aroma imaginable”
The second showcase, A/Lone, was highly contrasting to its predecessor, but its themes created a unique piece of choreography and physical theatre all of its own. Through original score and several everyday scenarios, director Janine McKenzie and choreographer Stacey Carmichael dived deep down into the psyche of every performer in our circuit to highlight what it means to be by yourself and how loneliness can be a good thing as well as bad. The audience saw Carmichael take to the floor with dance partner McGettigan for a raw and relatively relatable reel that explored how one can learn to find respect, trust and comfort within their very own skin without placing their self-worth in other people's hands. All three creative individuals involved in the piece figuratively stripped down to showcase their vulnerable side and put all of their insecurities on full display in order to connect with the audience on a whole new level, digging right to the core of your soul in a positive way. Portraying this showcase's themes can be very taxing and is not for the faint hearted but everyone apart of A/Lone stayed mature and composed the whole time, which was a testament to their phenomenal dramatic and choreographic skills in dance routines that were reflecting and reverberating.
Cast members Monique Powe, Corey Dyer, Tara O’Donnell and Xavier McGettigan holding graceful poses in red light. Photo by Sandy Gray.
In conclusion, both Perfect Pairing and A/Lone establish that body language can be just as pivotal if not more pivotal to effective storytelling than oral language is and dance showcases deserve just as much respect and acclaim that falls upon plays and musicals. Both performances got the audience thinking while still keeping them engaged and entertained with the light and darkness of the human mind whether they're sober or under the influence and it will perfectly suit the thousands of artistic individuals who descend into Edinburgh, Scotland for the Fringe Festival when it arrives later this year. Special shoutout to Xavier McGettigan, Jayson Fry and Maddy Pratt for all of their hard work and dedication to Friday night's presentation and to every one else associated with the making of this spectacle. If you're lucky enough to ne (sic) travelling to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in a few months time, then make sure you seize the opportunity to attend these two dance masterpieces and support theatre and all kinds of performance art all over the world.
Congratulations to all on a great premiere, chookas and safe travels.
Thanks Lucas!
From left to right: ADC Company Manager Jayson Fry, ADC Director Xavier McGettigan and Reviewer Lucas Ioppolo. Photo courtesy of Ioppolo.
To our dear ADC community, we still need your help! If you’d like to support our Edinburgh journey, please make a donation to our Australian Cultural Fund crowdfunding campaign as it enters its final month. Your donation will not only go directly to supporting our amazing team to pay for their flights and accommodation to Edinburgh, but as an added bonus, all donations over $2 are tax deductible.
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Thanks to everyone who has supported us so far either by attending one of our three fundraising events or by donating to our ACF campaign, which as of 30th June 2023 has raised $2,600 for a fundraising total of $4,250 altogether. We still need your support, so please consider donating today.