Dance Umbrella delivers an unforgettable opening performance

The show, which took place at the Dance Factory in Newtown, was opened with a speech by the director of Dance Umbrella for 20 years, Georgina Thomson.

“We have to encourage more dialogue in the industry that leads to debate and interesting conversations and ultimately leads to young dance practitioners feeling okay to take ownership of the industry,” said Thomson, who then continued to acknowledge that dance is facing some rough times.

She explained that there has not been enough productive dialogue between all parts of the arts and cultural institutions which resulted in new members not being introduced to the dance world, not only as dancers, but also as lovers of the arts.

The piece titled On Fire, performed by 11 dancers, began swiftly after the director’s speech. It was a contemporary piece that evaluated the place of heritage and tradition in the lives of people today.

The dance explores the after-effects of colonialism and apartheid on the people of the country, and delves into the ongoing power struggles being faced by them, too.

The production by Constanza Macras was a collaboration with South African dancers, Berlin-based performers and a Johannesburg artist, who provided the visuals for the show.

With the smell of sweat and the scenes of hard work, it was evident the performers had spared no effort in making the opening night of the renowned dance festival a spectacular and memorable one.