LIGHTING THE DARK

“You paint the world – you make it a better place.” This really is the point of this show. Lighting the Dark is a collaboration between one of the most exciting contemporary dance companies in Australia, Dancenorth Ensemble, and a Kaurna (Adelaide) based dancer and choreographer, Chris Dyke, living with Down Syndrome.

Beatboxing, superheroes, loud noises that reverberate in your chest, Jenga, David Bowie, Banksy, and more! This show is about fun, spontaneity, and inclusivity. Opening to Chris’ own beatboxing sounds, the dancers create a human puzzle that breathes, moves, and pulsates, filling the stage with humour and impulse. It took me back to my childhood, with games, heroes, dreams, and fun, where anything is possible, and play is a form of communication. Rhythm pulsates through the space with so much happening, despite only six dancers on stage. Yet the result is an intimate experience, where the audience becomes part of the show.

Enter crates. These banal, simple objects form an integral part of the performance – again, turning the everyday into a tool to create something unexpected. A giant crate Jenga reminds us of the simple ways of playing together. The wall of crates reminds us of the joy of building blocks; and when the wall is broken – it serves as a symbol of breaking the boundaries between what we know and what is different from us. The crates pave way to love, as Chris walks along the long line of them with a heart balloon in his hand.

This performance is relaxed. Make noise, wear headphones, be comfortable – there is even a quiet room at the gorgeous Thomas Dixon Centre for a decreased sensory experience if you need that. Go on a journey of simple delights and child-like innocence and feel part of the family with this performance from Dancenorth.