In an evening of dance and discussion, independent company i2 Installation and Fremantle Theatre Company presented Splice at Victoria Hall in Walyalup (Fremantle). Choreographer and director Xin Ong invited audiences to enjoy a 30 minute contemporary dance piece and stay for a panel discussion on the various topics and ideas that inspired and emerged from the work.
Four performers were already in situ as the audience entered the hall, three dancers (Estelle Brown, Izzy Leclezio, and Sarah Kinch) on the floor in front of the raised stage, and one musician (Abbey Felton) seated on the apron among a range of instruments, pedals, and a mic. A large tube of gauzy fabric curled from stage left to the floor, and two crinkled sheets of plasticky material, one like an emergency blanket and one opaque like a lighting gel, were connected end-to-end and hung above the floor stage right.
As the performance began, Felton built an atmosphere with sound loops, spoken word, and vocals, and the trio of dancers slowly built energy through expanded movement. Initially in separate spheres, immersed in their own individual worlds, they converged and coalesced into a single kaleidoscopic unit, and even Felton left her musician’s perch to join the dance as her loops carried on by themselves. In time, they dispersed and returned to their individual zones.
Ong, in the program notes, describes wanting to explore the idea of time passing and the feelings that come from losing touch and catching up with others over time. In the panel discussion that followed the performance, Ong explored another aspect that drove her to develop this work. Aside from being an artist, Ong is a medical professional, and Splice is her way of reconciling those two sides of herself as she creates a meaningful life that allows her to be and do both. She talks about pivoting in her dance practice from ballet to contemporary dance, while also pursuing a medical career.
In the panel discussion, she was joined by two people from both sides of her life: Andrea Lim, an artist who pivoted in her artistic path (mainly out of necessity during the Covid outbreak), and Dr Lincoln Luk, a medical entrepreneur with whom Ong is currently employed. The talk offered food for thought and interesting perspectives, and it’s evident that Ong is keen to facilitate connections between seemingly disparate worlds. As Ong hones her creative voice, finds specificity in her message, and develops her narrative skills as a performance maker, Ong will continue to make unique connections and tell stories that reveal how innovative, adaptable, and multi-faceted humans can be.
CICELY BINFORD
Splice was performed at Victoria Hall in Walyalup from 18 – 20 July 2024.
