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In Glass

In Glass is a duet choreographed by Narelle Benjamin and inspired by the stunning dance partnership of Paul White and Kristina Chan. In Glass premiered at the Sydney Opera House Studio as part of Spring Dance 2010 and was presented at the Malthouse Theatre as part of Dance Massive 2011. Both seasons sold out.

Using live dance, mirror reflection and film projection, Benjamin creates a kaleidoscopic realm to explore states of unconsciousness, altered realities and mythical places. 

Paul White and Kristina Chan are outstanding interpreters of Narelle’s movement language, described as ‘creamily athletic choreography’. Narelle’s starting point for the work is her observation of Paul and Kristina performing together: “It’s as if they are one person: the male/female version of each other. They are so intuitive and connected”.

Reflecting – literally – states of opposites and the slippery spaces between, In Glass questions the twinned positions of male and female, good and bad, conscious and unconscious. Bodies pair, duplicate and split apart. Haunting shapes and hovering spectres overlap and intersect in Benjamin’s kaleidoscopic choreography; motion travels from one form to another. In Glass delves into mysterious places where it is uncertain where one person ends and another begins.

Narelle Benjamin

Narelle’s dance credits include Australian Dance Theatre, Chunky Move, Bangarra Dance Theatre, One Extra and The Chrissie Parrott Dance Collective. She won The Age Performing Arts Award for Best Performer 1994.

The development of her choreographic career has included two works for the One Extra Company, Gossamer (Sydney Dance Company), The Dark Room (Australian Ballet), Figment (Sydney Festival 2008), Lulie and Pixel (Theatre of Image).  In 2007 Narelle choreographed two films with the Sydney Dance Company made possible through the Hepzibah Tintner Fellowship; POD with Samuel James and The Shape of Water with Cordelia Beresford.

In 2010 Narelle premiered In Glass, her first full length work, at the Sydney Opera House’s Spring Dance. In Glass was awarded the 2011 Australian Dance Award for Outstanding  Achievement in Independent Dance.

Kristina Chan

Kristina has worked with numerous Australian companies, choreographers and directors including: Australian Dance Theatre, Chunky Move, Sydney Theatre Company, Theatre of Image, Deborah Hay, Tanja Liedtke and Narelle Benjamin. She received Australian Dance Awards for Twelfth Floor (2006) and construct (2007) and the 2011 Helpmann Award for Best Female Dancer for In Glass.

Paul White

Paul has worked with Australian Dance Theatre, Meryl Tankard, Tanja Liedtke, Narelle Benjamin, DV8 Physical Theatre (UK), David Hughes (Scotland), Shaun Parker, and Nigel Jamieson. He received Helpmann Awards for Best Male dancer for Honour Bound (2008) and In Glass (2011), and the 2010 Australian Dance Award for The Oracle.

Photo: Régis Lansac
 

CONTACT

Rosalind Richards
Producer, Artful Management

2 Marmion Street
Camperdown NSW 2050

+61 434 350 938

artful@optusnet.com.au

http://www.artfulmanagement.com.au