APACHE STUDIES @ UNDERBELLY FESTIVAL
When it comes to Dancing With the Stars both the stars and the dancing are of dubious repute. And yet unfortunately, this is probably the most exposure the average Sydneysider gets to ‘dancing’. Unless, of course, you count other, less traditional manifestations – like slapping, strangling, and other forms of fighting. Artists Hosanna Heinrich, Chris Wilson and Kenny Feather are exploring what dwells at this shadowy intersection of the body through the brutal and fascinating tradition of Danse Apache. They will record their findings and screen the results as part of the Underbelly Festival this weekend. Hosanna Heinrich tells us more.
What drew you to Danse Apache?
The Danse Apache is a bastardised version of waltz and tango interspersed with moments of brutality between the partners, slapping, hair-pulling and if you’re lucky…the helicopter! Rumour is it was born on the streets of Montmatre, Paris in the early 1900s with a vicious street fight between lovers. We discovered it during a very brief residency earlier this year. Chris Wilson, Kenny Feather and myself had undertaken to film the meeting point of fighting and dancing through tai chi and tango. While trawling YouTube we discovered the Apache dance. It was a fortuitous moment and we decided to use it as a focal point for our own explorations. I enjoy the comedic element, the couple embracing one minute and strangling each other the next. I’d say the road we are going down is a little more subtle, dancing the line between caress and conflict.
How much is dance akin to fighting?
I think any form of fighting that has a structure is very close to dance. I’m thinking here of boxing and martial arts, not so much your Saturday night beer-fuelled pub brawl (although that’s probably closer to the origins of Apache so hell … why not?) Students often learn through choreography of footwork and arm movements. Rhythm and timing are just as integral to executing an effective defence as a super-fast jitterbug. The most interesting idea for me is where partnership comes in. It’s impossible to fight without an opponent, a partner. Just like the saying goes it takes two to tango.
What of the end result?
The studies are silent…a little bit Muybridge-styled pseudo scientific. We are knee deep in footage at the moment and still recording, so in fact anything could happen. We will be screening throughout the day and most likely doing a few artist talks at different times.
Sat Jul 17, 2-10pm, Kensington St, Chippendale, underbellyarts.com.au
