Although the country/continent of Australia isn't usually known for its performing arts, the Luckman Theater at Cal State L.A. is presenting one of Down Under's finest dance ensembles this weekend. For one show only, the technology-driven athletic company Chunky Move will grace the Los Angeles stage with the local premiere of its evening length Connected.
Described as more "mechanical" than digital, this current production is the result of a collaboration between Californian artist Reuben Margolin and Chunky Move's founding director and choreographer Gideon Obarzanek. Weaving the agile dancers between, within and around a kinetic sculpture, an animated interactive twist of bodies and machine enlivens the production. Accompanied by a score composed by Oren Ambarchi and Robin Fox, the five dancers build the sculpture with wood, recycled plastic and steel as they develop their simple physical connections into complex relationships.
The company's promotional materials assert that Chunky Move has the "enviable reputation... for producing a distinct yet unpredictable brand of genre-defying dance performance [as it] constantly seeks to redefine what is or what can be contemporary dance within an ever-evolving Australian culture."
The highly acclaimed company has performed internationally since its creation in 1995 but rarely in L.A. Obarzanek, its founding director, has just stepped down from his role and is being followed by Netherlands-born Anouk van Dijk at the helm. Right now, Connected is touring across the U.S.
Check out the trailer belowand come see Australia in L.A.
