HotHouse Company
A Resting Mess
During Weeks 4 and 5, Daisy Sanders led a team of professional artists who have transformed The Hangar into a world of magic and mystery while dancing for numerous hours each day in the HotHouse Company multidisciplinary arts residency, A Resting Mess.
The artists planned their performance in Week 4 and then have been performing live this week, students and staff were encouraged to walk by The Hangar to either observe by viewing through windows or booking classes into a more formal 30 minute presentation in the venue itself.
This creative experience for the community has allowed students and staff to gain an insight into the minds of professional dancers, ignited their own imaginations and challenged preconceived ideas on dance and performance spaces.
Student Reflections
LIVE LOUNGE PERFORMANCE
The Live Lounge is a performance space where artists can share their talents with the wider All Saints’ community through film. To be asked to be a part of this was a completely new experience. You don’t often come across the opportunity to perform your original music and be videoed by such incredibly talented people. The only thing that surpassed the crew’s talents was how supportive they were, making it a safe and comfortable space that made the performance feel very casual and relaxed, and making the experience that much better. Not only was the experience unparalleled, but the end product was amazing and put together so beautifully. Thank you to all the people involved with this incredible opportunity, especially Mr Stefan Hamilton, Ms Hayley Wellington, the media crew and Mr Stephen Roberts. I highly recommend any other artists in our community take up this opportunity; I’m definitely glad I did.
Please note: Live Lounge Performances coming soon!
Chenelle Liyanage (Year 10)
YEAR 12 MONOLOGUE EVENING
The Year 12 class worked to strategically weave our 12 contrasting monologues into a flowing, cohesive piece we named The Tapestry. We wanted to celebrate the varying forms and styles of theatre that we all individually engaged with in our monologues. It was challenging to think of different ways to bring everyone into each scene, as we had to re-block solo pieces to work with a cast of 12. Whether it was framing a piece with aesthetically pleasing tableaux or redirecting the monologues to become group scenes, it turned out to be extremely effective for elevating the energy and intent of each piece. Being able to work on each other’s monologues together gave us all ideas on how to individually improve our performances. It was wonderful to get the chance to perform our pieces in front of an audience as opposed to a panel of examiners, and to share our hard work with our families and friends. It was so enjoyable to work together as a class and present our solo work in such a harmonious and unconventional way.
Ayla Woodland (Year 12)
LIVE THE JOURNEY DANCE CONCERT
For a dancer, choreographer and cocurricular dance teacher, this is the best time of the year, as nothing beats putting on a show for an audience that enjoys all the hard work you’ve put in for months leading up to the performances. We were very lucky to have a performance this year for all dancers – co-curricular and Dance class. Splitting the show in two was the solution to overcome the possibility of not being able to perform, which scared and upset many of us at the time. The show came to fruition and made these two nights the two best nights of my life, giving me many memories that I’ll cherish for ever. The dance opportunities at All Saints’ have really made school and dance the best thing in the world to me: from the co-curricular items and student-led classes to the duos I created with my peers to performing my solo on stage. I’m going to miss everything about the experience, but this made my last ASC performance the best of them all.
Dylan Gardiner (Year 12)
LIVE THE JOURNEY DANCE CONCERT
On Friday, 24 July, the CPA hosted one part of the College Dance Concert in its modified form. The show was originally set for Term 2, 2020 and cocurricular rehearsals started in the first few weeks of the school year. When the College moved to at-home learning, rehearsals were cancelled, and choreographers and performers were told to prepare for the worst: no show at all.
The cancellation of the 2020 College Production Our Country’s Good was a blow to everyone; but when school started up again on campus, it was a moment of hope for all the dancers of the College. Rehearsals began again part way through Term 2 and, in something of a crazy rush, almost every piece was completed in time for the modified cocurricular performance.
Instead of the usual two-and-a-half-hour show performed over three nights, this year’s Dance Concert Live the Journey was split into three: a performance at the end of Term 2 by Year 9 and 10 students studying Dance, the cocurricular showcase in Week 1 and the Year 11 and 12 showcase in Week 3 with a special focus on the ATAR students.
The cocurricular showcase was an opportunity for all dancers who rehearse outside normal classes, from a wide range of year groups, and who do not study it as a subject. It was also an opportunity to showcase performances choreographed by ATAR students in front of an audience.
It certainly didn’t have the standard slick rehearsal structure, but the crazy rush and long day paid off in the performances on Friday. Most dancers had their first chance to rehearse on the CPA stage during Week 1 of this term, with many coming into school on Tuesday – Reignition Day for the Year 11 and 12s, but prior to the formal start of Term 3 for others. Most dancers had not had the chance to rehearse over the three weeks of holidays and had to pull it together quickly to be ready for Friday.
Tech rehearsals ran through the school day on Friday. This was the first rehearsal for some dancers who had been unable to attend earlier in the week, and also the first opportunity for many of the crew members to see the pieces and prepare for their all-important roles in keeping the show effective and running smoothly. The first time the whole cast was together onstage was 2.40 pm on Friday, less than three hours before the beginning of the first show. Dress rehearsal – the first time the show was run as a whole – including quick-changes, full lighting, costumes, hair, and make-up – started at 3.00pm.
The show was split into two because tickets were sold out for one show, but the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions did not go as expected. This meant we had 400 people expecting to see the concert, but only an audience of 200 permitted. Dancers found out on Tuesday that we would be running the show twice, with a 20-minute gap for one audience to exit the theatre and another to be seated.
The (metaphorical) curtain opened for Show 1 at 5.00pm and Show 2 at 6.20pm. By the end of the second hour-long show of the evening, the dancers were ready for a nice long sleep, but everyone involved is thankful we were able to run a show after the chaos of the first half of 2020.
The cocurricular showcase was especially important for the Year 12 students (especially the non-ATAR students who did not perform in the Year 11 and 12 showcase), some of whom have been doing cocurricular dance at All Saints’ since Year 3. After the curtain closed on the second show on Friday night, many of the Year 12s could be found crying in the dressing rooms after finishing one of the final performances at ASC.
This amazing experience and unforgettable performance would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication, support, and enthusiasm of a group of wonderful people. All the performers and audience members owe a debt of gratitude and acknowledgement to Dance teachers Ms Narelle Codalonga and Mrs Erin Harvey; Theatre Manager Mr Geoff Glencross in the box; the students working backstage, in the wings, and in the box as crew; the supervising teachers; and, of course, the Old Saints and current students who went above and beyond this year to choreograph, costume, and teach their cocurricular dances.
Lexie O'Brien (Year 12)