Walking into the theatre, my eyes are transfixed by the grey and eerie image of Lake Eyre projected on the back screen which contrasts with the 70s and 80s rock beats that fill the theatre as we wait for the show to start. As this will be my third earthquake inspired show I’ve seen this year, I wonder whether Hagley Dance Company’s interpretation of events will incite any new emotions.

As outlined in the program, Move, A seismic journey is a six chapter show based on the company’s collective experiences of the Canterbury quakes. These are a mixture of student and professional choreographies  performed by seven of the company’s students, two males and five females.

To begin, Candice Egan’s A seismic journey takes the audience on an angulating expedition through our seismic past, reminding us all that these shaky times are inherent to the history of our homeland. Sharp, angular limbs crop up to represent the rugged terrain of the Southern Alps and I really do feel as though I have been thrust on a journey through time as the dancers move into various formations that illustrate the changing landscape. A weave of bare legs across the floor is one of many striking images created to mirror the Canterbury plains or perhaps seismic waves.

A wave of mesh fabric is strewn across the stage and two male dancers move beneath it, their incredibly extended legs creating various shapes and patterns with the fabric. This is the first of several interesting props to be used throughout the show. The next is a staircase which the dancers move up and down, taking the dance to a whole new level.

Choreographed by Kieran Growcott, Lost and found is a highlight for me. The harmonious duet is soothing to watch. The partnership between the two dancers is entrancing as they lift then lower each other to the floor and make connections through a variety of movements. Both of the dancers are very skilled in executing long, extended movements.

An eclectic mix of music accompanies the pieces ranging from Nike Cave to Muse, the lyrics reiterating the central ideas in the movement. Amy Leigh Broadstock has appropriately chosen Radiohead’s Everything in its right place to accompany her choreography of the same title. Upside down chairs capture the essence of what it is like to walk into your home and find everything in its wrong place. 

Another of Amy Leigh’s pieces, Sleepless, uses a mattress as the base for the dancer to move on. The irritability of many sleepless nights is clear in the movements of the dancers constant shuffling and changing of position on the mattress. A feeling I’m sure most of us Cantabrians can relate to. 

As the show progresses, the functionality of the seemingly simply costume – brown short shorts and a green top – becomes apparent as dancers remove layers of the top to reveal different hues reminiscent of the land. This costume changeover is craftily done as in the blink of an eye I miss this changeover every time it is done.

A second choreography by Kieran Growcott, Found is powerful and explosive.  The young dancer throws his body around the stage, demonstrating his athleticism while still maintaining a graceful energy.  His leaps and jumps to the floor are endearing and he maintains a strong focus throughout. As Kieran exits the stage, two words are in my head, come back.

Movements that mimic the daily habits of two couples, in Contrasts by Mariafelix Fuenzalida Onate , develop into a struggle with the new challenges that the couples face after the events of the earthquake. The dancers play with a structure that looks like an open doorway. This creates a dramatic effect as one of the couples slowly leans it towards the other couple,  giving the feeling that they are about to be crushed by a building.

To close the evening is Unbroken, which is choreographed by Fleur de Their and performed by the entire cast of dancers, a wonderful way to end the show. This piece is uplifting and full of dynamic movement and impressive lifts. By the end of the piece all of the dancers have adopted a shaking movement reiterating how the shakes have become the norm for us.

Having been impressed with the dancers’ acrobatic skills throughout and reading in the program how many of them have had training in circus arts, I am delighted that their bows are a medley of flips, cartwheels and other tricks to end the show on a high note.

This portrayal of the earthquake is exciting and uplifting. I am comforted by the fact that all of the dancers and choreographers have shared experiences that relate so well to what most of us are feeling, making me feel more normal.

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