To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Black Grace the dance company brought two beautiful pieces of dance to the Civic Theatre.
If Ever There Was a Time
Choreographed by Neil Ieremia this was, he said, a response to the weaponisation of religion, and indeed, it was clear this was a polemic against blind faith. As the curtain rose, each of the dancers wore a red blindfold. Some of them were writhing on the floor, others clinging together en-masse, arms outstretched.
Above them hung a large sheet of fabric resembling clouds and at the back of the stage a large full moon appeared, yellow, bright, enthralling. The movements, initially spasmodic became more fluid as the dancers removed their blindfolds and came together under that watchful moon. It felt primal, visceral, exciting.
What followed were a series of scenes with upbeat music invoicing a range of styles from the 60s through to urban rap. There was even a nod to classical ballet and a refrain from Swan Lake.
These scenes were full of life, and rebellion, yet at times, the restraints society puts on us were evident. In one scene a couple met, presumably to wed or at least co-habit, but each was held back by two companions who used long cloths which wrapped around the faces of the lovers, impeding their forward motion. They did embrace eventually but the restraints were still there.
But hope and tenacity did not vanish and we witnessed many moments of sheer joy and wonder which led ultimately, at the close, to freedom.
Esplanade
This is an American piece first performed forty years ago by the Paul Taylor Dance Company. It was a series of scenes full of energy and emotion. The dancers wore perfectly tailored outfits in a range of pastel colours – oranges, pinks, tan, mauve. The choreography, accompanied by the timeless music of Bach, was lyrical, energetic, wholesome and referenced ballet without its tight constraints.
Initially the mood was joyful, with lots of running, jumping and an obvious playfulness. Later, it became more sombre. People came together, but there appered to be suspicion or even indifference.
Later still was a strong sense of community and even courtship. We saw flirtation and youthful high spirits. This was humanity testing the waters, challenging, but also revelling in life.
Both of these dance pieces were expertly staged. The lighting, costuming and soundscapes were simply beautiful and incredibly inspiring. Black Grace is well-known for its sumptuous creativity and this evening was an exemplar of that. After 30 years, the company, its talented dancers and its creativity are still top-notch.
BLACK GRACE
21 November 2025 – Civic Theatre, Auckland
25 & 26 November 2025 – Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch