DHS Dance Doesn't Disappoint

In Week 7 the Tank came alive for a weekend of dance with Dance22 on Friday evening and Formula on Saturday and Sunday.

By teacher Sarah Calver

For the past twelve years, Darwin High School (DHS) Dance Department has annually celebrated Dance and what it brings to us all. We began with Dance11 in 2011 and Dance22 once again celebrated the diverse and dynamic talents of over 120 incredible performers from not only DHS but within our diverse and dynamic D-Town community.

Audiences were treated to a smorgasbord of dance predominantly delivered by incredible young dancers from DHS, Darwin Middle School, SLIDE Youth Dance Theatre, Darwin Performance Academy, and Royal Existence.

I have been privileged to be part of our Dance community and industry for the past 38 years and I am always inspired by the talent of our youth dancers. This was amplified by the extraordinary performances by DHS Dance alumni Jordan Bretherton and Arthur Casinillo Lariosa - two fantastic professional artists who are back in Darwin mentoring our emerging dancers. The lighting by the innovative Bill Surtees was excellent. 

DHS 2022 Creative Arts Dance celebrates a new cohort of dancers and two innovative mentors who together have developed FORMULA- a season of two new short dance works. One is the Formula of Love by Joanna Noonan and the other is the Formula of Colours by Jordan Bretherton. Both pieces showcase passages of clever choreography and the finesse, skill and determination of the dancers.

Tomm Lydiards imaginative lighting design stimulates the senses and captures the liquid lines, atmosphere, intensity and talent of the dancers. Mitchell Alderidges original soundscape for Bretherton’s work is powerful, and Noonan’s soundscape echoes and connects with the dancers emotional journey of love.

Congratulations to all the staff, students and volunteers who contributed to the success of these events. We look forward to more performances in Semester 2!