SPRING DANCE

The golden age of dance in Australia has arrived. Dance is big news, big business, and a big deal. With the massive popularity of dance on TV, suddenly everyone has an opinion on the ideal positioning of a pirouette, and the rhythmic preferences of a quickstep.

And what better way to embrace this new obsession than with a dance festival, at Sydney’s iconic Opera House. After the massive success of last year’s inaugural Spring Dance, the 2010 program promises to amaze and inspire, while challenging our very notions of what dance can be.

For Sydney Opera House’s Head of Theatre and Dance, Wendy Martin, the current ‘pop’ phenomenon of dance in Australia was the perfect platform for setting up Spring Dance. “People are suddenly talking about choreographers with the sort of recognition and personal passion that’s usually reserved to football players,” she explained. “Working off that kind of buzz, the natural step was to set up a festival – encouraging audiences to get involved, see more than one show, and become more aware of what dance can mean.”

Spring Dance 2010 puts the spotlight on contemporary dance, catering to many different tastes and interests, within a great range of styles. There is a focus on breaking down barriers – incorporating different dance styles, mixing the traditional with the modern, and challenging assumptions. A great example being the free show Transports Exceptionnels, a duet between a dancer and an earthmover.

A central focus of the festival’s direction is broadening the accessibility of the Opera House. Whether this is through shows incorporating professionally trained dancers with those from the streets, or showcasing hip-hop in a traditional theatre space, the aim is to create openness.

Spring Dance will showcase three new Australian shows, alongside with international performances from a broad spectrum of dance arenas, and it will be interesting to see how the Australian audiences will respond. With a range of free events, those who might have never been to the Opera House in the past, will have a great opportunity to be part of the tradition, within a very approachable, engaging platform.

Until Sept 26, Sydney Opera House, free-$249 (all 7 shows), 9250 7777, sydneyoperahouse.com

BY LENA ZAK