Lake: Fluid and Challenging Dance Event for SA

South Australia’s South-East and Riverland audiences are in for a completely new experience in contemporary dance when maverick choreographer Lisa Wilson brings her production Lake to Mount Gambier’s Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre and Renmark’s Chaffey Theatre.

Country Arts SA says Lake is dance like you’ve never seen it before. The stage will become an intriguing and beautiful aquatic world as it is flooded with 2,800 litres of water.

In this stunning production a talented trio of award-winning dancers, Timothy Ohl, Kristina Chan and Hsin-Ju Chiu, will dare to execute a strong narrative on the submerged stage.

Lake has been four years in the making. ‘The inspiration for this production came from the intense beauty and chilling isolation of a lake and the primal undercurrents of what lies submerged beneath the surface,’ said its choreographer, Lisa Wilson.

Reflective of the rapture, despair and underlying tensions experienced in a relationship, the water also shapes the unfolding action, causing slips and spills as the dancers propel themselves across the stage in a repertoire of sliding and splashing moves.

The broody lighting and set design enhance the effects of the water, creating a firework display of light and movement, including cascades of silvered spray.

I asked Lisa Wilson how the dancers have changed their natural performance styles and rehearsal routines to incorporate the unique challenge of dancing in water.

‘Performing in water is risky and has its challenges, she said. ‘You can’t step out as much as you would like to and have to really keep your weight underneath you and call on all your years of strength and control. We actually rehearse for this work in water, so we have the set in a rehearsal room, as you need to get used to it- it’s such an integral element of the show.’

I also asked Lisa what issues she’d faced in flooding stages with water to produce Lake and whether the South Australian venues have any particular challenges to overcome in this regard.

‘Obviously mixing electricity and lighting with water is something that needs proper care and consideration,’ she said. ‘I can’t answer how this is challenging or not in South Australia, so you may have to ask those venues.’

Ask them I did, and of course the obvious issue from the start for the venues has been the volume of water required, a precious commodity in such a dry and conservation-conscious country and state. However, each venue has found a practical solution to manage, conserve and recycle the water.

‘Never before have we flooded the stage with water so we have had to look at all the issues that may arise from such an innovative production,’ Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre manager Frank Morello said. ‘It is a huge challenge to bring 2,800 litres of water inside and contain it on stage. The Mount Gambier Council has donated the water and will return it to the city parks and gardens; their knowledge in dealing with these logistics has been very valuable.’

‘We’ve been lucky to have SA Water and Riverland Water provide us the water and then take it away to donate to the Renmark Primary School,’ Chaffey Theatre manager Sharlene Martin said. ‘Safety is always a priority when setting up theatre works and in this case we have had many more boxes to tick, but with the help of the community and a great team at the Chaffey, we’re confident we will provide a once-in-a-lifetime event.’

Country Arts SA Season 2014 principal partner, SA Power Networks’ Chief Executive Officer Rob Locke said Lake is an exciting conversation starter.

‘You don’t tend to think thousands of litres of water when you book to see a dance show,’ he said. ‘It’s great to have people out there who are willing to put forth ingenious ideas that break the mould.’

Country Arts SA Chief Executive Officer Steve Saffell urged audiences not to miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Lake.

‘This is a daring production that curiously combines dance and water to create a beautiful experience,’ he said. ‘You have to see it to believe it.’

Lesley Reed

Bookings: http://www.countryarts.org.au/show/lake/

Dates: Mount Gambier- April 5, 7.30 pm. Renmark- April 10, 7.30 pm.

Venue: Mount Gambier- Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre. Renmark- Chaffey Theatre.

Tickets: $17-$36.

Photographer: Fen-Lan Chuang