Graeme Murphy’s Suite Synergy

It was exhilarating and exciting to be present at the debut of something so promising, energetic and vibrant as Mod Dance Company, with this highly entertaining touring production. Suite Synergy is an inspired and inspiring creative collaboration between Graeme Murphy as choreographer and Michael Askill as composer/percussionist and, one senses, to some extent, all the company with the guidance of artistic director Brett Morgan.

Paying homage to previous very successful collaborations between Murphy and Askill, the impetuousness of the percussive sound inspires, underpins and complements the capriciousness of the dance and visa versa.

Received enthusiastically by a Melbourne audience, Suite Synergy has many of the hallmarks of a Graeme Murphy work, such as joy, lyricism and humour.  And it has an extra dash of exuberance that is probably due to the youthful energy and commitment of the large group of dedicated dancers, with distinct personality and individuality. Then there is the fabulous musicianship from Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, Stephanie Mudford, Cameron Kennedy and Askill himself.

I found the haunting ‘Pipe Dreams’ particularly potent, not only because of the beauty of Sarah Williams dancing but the melding of light and set with sound and movement. Caleb Bartolo exudes exciting energy with rhythmic sound in ‘Thumper’. Kalman Warhaft is the consummate mime artist/comedian in the very funny ‘Sticky Moments.’ And in amongst the whole there is some particularly striking and fluid ‘pas de deux’ work that I wish I could better credit.

Although, with all dancers on stage, there seemed to be moments when not everyone was completely in sync, and I sense the lighting did not always ‘come to the party’ to fully enhance the set atmospherically (both designed by Adrian Sterritt), almost anything could be forgiven, particularly any ‘first night jitters’ or oversights, within the uplifting reverie of the whole.

Joyous and engaging!

All one can do - is wish this vibrant company wellJ

Suzanne Sandow

Photographer: Michelle Grace Hunder.

Tour Details

Read our interview with Graeme Murphy