Mutiara: saltwater cowboys and the human cost of natural beauty

Dalisa Pigram and Zee Zunner in Mutiara for Marrugeku

Soultari Amin Farid in Mutiara for Marrugeku

Ahmat Bin Fadal – Sidal in Mutiara for Marrugeku

By Katie Lawrence, 21 January 2024

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“In terms of the storytelling, the narrative is driven by visuals and voiceovers, over movement”

Reviewed at Seymour Centre: Sound Lounge, Sydney on 20 January 2024

Mutiara (Dalisa Pigram)

Marrugeku

Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Set Designer

Aiden Brennan, Lighting Designer

The art of storytelling: Dalisa Pigram’s Gudirr Gudirr

Chantal Nguyen, 27th June

This solo performance is a touching, tender, and powerfully-told story of Australian Indigenous identity in northwest Australia's Kimberley region.

***11

Acosta's Don Quixote for BRB: polished but not quite enough panache

Jonathan Gray, 23rd April

Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote for Birmingham Royal Ballet returned to Sadler's Wells with polished but low-key interpretations across the board.

***11

The Royal Ballet and McGregor: stunning dancing but nothing really new

Deborah Weiss, 18th April

An evening of ballets by Wayne McGregor, including the world premiere of Quantum Souls, proved to be a little too much of the same thing.

***11

The Center Will Not Hold: Dorrance Dance thrills at Sadler's Wells

Daniel Pratt, 17th April

Dorrance Dance offer a compelling mix of genres in The Center Will Not Hold – high energy, full of surprises, top quality performances.

****1

Natalia Makarova's La Bayadère: a night to remember in Oslo

Vikki Jane Vile, 17th April

Norwegian National Ballet gives a marvellous rendition of Natalia Makarova's La Bayadère. Opening night in Oslo was a strong argument for its place in any season, displaying ballet escapism at its best.

****1

Pop goes postmodern: Kyle Abraham's Cassette Vol. 1 in New York

Carla Escoda, 16th April

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham with guest artist Taylor Stanley bring a postmodern vibe to an early MTV-era playlist. One of the most bewitching things you're likely to encounter this year.

*****

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Katie Lawrence

Katie Lawrence has a background in ballet, jazz, and contemporary, and spent much of her adolescence in the dressing room of dance eisteddfods. She is still mildly triggered by the smell of hairspray. She is now a regular in Sydney's dance audience crowd and can often be found at Sydney Dance Company and Tanya Pearson adult classes.