DanceSurance Ignite: Victorian Dance Returns to the Stage
A night that had been long awaited amongst the Victorian dance community, DanceSurance Ignite was exactly the event we had all been hoping for. Held at the Plenary Theatre at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre on April 14th, the event was created to ‘reignite the dance industry after the tough year of 2020’. Organised by Victorian Dance Festival (VDF) Directors Deborah and Daniel Searle, in conjunction with VDF Artistic Director Yvette Lee, DanceSurance Ignite was a night of celebration, allowing Victorian dancers to perform on stage to a live, physical audience for the first time in over a year. Exhilaration, excitement, and eagerness were just some of the feelings of not only the performers but teachers, parents, friends and family alike.
Pictured: Dancers from the Energetiks Victorian Dance Festival 2019
Before we had even stepped into the auditorium, the foyer was abuzz with energy. The realisation of finally being able to see a live show was starting to become a reality. There were greetings and hugs from those who finally got to reunite after the past year apart, happy snaps being taken to commemorate the moment and with Nadia Tornese DJing, we knew it was going to be a good night. This energy was further heightened once we entered the auditorium. The atmosphere was electric with an anxiously awaiting crowd bursting with excitement for the performances that were about to unfold. Something that had been absent for almost the entirety of 2020 was finally given back to us and the anticipation was monumental.
Starting the night off was Patrick School of the Arts whose dynamic routine highlighted the talent of the dancers at our full time dance institutions in Victoria. And this talent wasn’t just localised to one school in particular. All of the full time dance institutions who performed (Spectrum Dance, Kelly Aykers Full Time Dance, Transit Dance, and Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance) displayed strength and precision with their rehearsed and polished routines, showcasing a high calibre of dancers. Performances by SCIMM’s Professional Company, as well as their Platforms Youth Company, further demonstrated the talent, precision, and artistry of the dancers we have in Melbourne. Their articulation and stylised movement was perfectly juxtaposed with their strength, technique, and stamina; a pleasure to watch and experience.
Pictured: Dancers from the Energetiks Victorian Dance Festival 2019
Witnessing students from dance schools all over the state come to dance at Ignite truly embodied the sense of community and inclusivity the night was created for. Dancers of all ages graced the stage, sharing their love of dance with the audience. You couldn’t help but smile when you watched the routines throughout the night, particularly the younger dancers who were living their best lives shaking their hips for us all. On such a large stage you wouldn’t have expected six girls to have so much presence to captivate the audience the way they did, but Dance Machine easily rose to the challenge. Their performance to a mix of old school hip hop beats was just the thing to keep the party going.
And the party didn’t stop with them. We were treated to routines encompassing all genres of dance from the aesthetic, ethereal qualities of classical ballet to strong technical lines of jazz; emotive lyrical numbers through to hard hitting yet fluid hip hop groups. It was impossible to leave the night not feeling inspired and motivated to get your dancing shoes on. An opportunity to express how they were feeling, it was great to see how each school, company or group shared what was important to them and how they conveyed that with the audience.
Pictured: Dancers from the Energetiks Victorian Dance Festival 2019
The unanimous love for dance was truly felt throughout the night. The support, admiration, and encouragement felt from the audience to the performers was a beautiful thing to be a part of and demonstrated the resilience and determination of the Victorian dance community. Despite the difficulties encountered throughout the past year, the phenomenal talent, creativity, and ability displayed truly showed that dance is back and it’s even better than before!
If you missed out on this amazing night of dance or you can’t wait to experience a night like it again, come dance with us at the Energetiks Victorian Dance Festival 2021!
There will be two days of workshops plus another showcase evening!
For more news and info about the upcoming Energetiks VDF visit www.victoriandancefestival.com
and keep up to date with the latest announcements on the VDF instagram.
Article by Sheree Ronai-Horvath
Photography by Elly Ford
Read More:
Energetiks VDF 2019 | The Highlights Reel
Yvette Lee | Earn Your Stripes
Review: Boss Dance Company presents BOUND
