Subtle Dances
World Premiere 2021 / Bruce Mason Centre
Commissioned by BalletCollective Aotearoa
Auckland Arts Festival
Dunedin Arts Festival
2021 Premiere tour
2024 Revival tour
Choreographer Loughlan Prior
Composer Claire Cowan
Costume Design William Fitzgerald
Lighting Design Alan Wilson
NZTrio:
Amalia Hall Violin
Ashley Brown Cello
Somi Kim Piano
Images: John McDermott
With special thanks to
Turid Revfeim, Brigitte Knight,
Shona McCullagh, Auckland Arts Festival, Charlie Unwin, Dunedin Arts Festival and
Creative New Zealand
Program Notes: Loughlan Prior continues to develop his strong artistic relationship with acclaimed Kiwi composer Claire Cowan. Their new work, Subtle Dances, explores a set of three contrasting atmospheres for piano trio, fused with a synthetic sound-mix. Flirtation, nervousness, exhibitionism, 'peacocking' - the unspoken rituals performed in complex courtship are explored in every note and subtle dance.
Both sassy and hypnotic, the ballet presents itself as a continually shifting collection of landscapes for human interaction. Inspired by traditional partner dance styles (ballroom and latin dance), the work slowly devolves into a physical language all its own, where the lines of gender and sexuality are erased.
From the 2021 Premiere:
"A definitive and unique style that reflects a contemporary ethos is definitely apparent in the performance of Loughlan Prior’s Subtle Dances, a work reflecting the rituals of courtship and touching on the ambivalence of gender fluidity."
- Theatre Review
"The work explores and explodes with themes of gender blurring—swirls of hot tango as the boys and girls and boys come out to play. It is saucy, spicy, dark and compelling."
- Michelle Potter…on Dancing
"Prior jigsaws together steps from a variety of eras and styles with queer mischief"
- DANZ
From the 2024 Revival:
"Prior is a choreographer who has made a major contribution to dance in New Zealand (including BCA’s premiere work, Transfigured Night, to Schoenberg, under Chamber Music New Zealand’s auspices). He is a past master at setting groups that capture and build atmosphere, and this stylish piece is no exception.
- Micelle Potter …on Dancing
"Prior teases the audience with his quirky work and finds a way to blur the line between gender and sexuality."
- Theatre Review
"With dramatic solo dancing, integrated with ever changing ensemble groupings, this mesmeric choreography is filled with passion and resonance."
- DANZ