‘Savage’, the mesmerising dance production challenging perspectives of Indigenous history

Posted on 20 September, 2022

‘The violence of forgetting’—a powerful and confronting sentiment that pulses throughout the Australian Dance Theatre’s breathtaking contemporary dance performance Savage.

With tenderness, truth, and melancholy, Artistic Director and Wiradjuri man Daniel Riley gives Indigenous Australians a voice and leaves timely and powerful marks with Savage, performing at the Canberra Theatre Centre on 29–30 September.

Amidst dynamic ensemble performances and gripping solos, Savage will also see Daniel take the stage. As a choreographer and performer who started his career 20 years ago in Canberra, audiences will bear witness to this inspiring full circle where Daniel will speak of culture, identity and Country.

“I have a strong connection to the themes of Savage, and I really feel the need to be in it, to dance beside and within the ensemble.”

“It’s going to be a real challenge to juggle both choreographing and performing, to step outside the work, assess and jump back in as a performer. I still have things I want to do on stage, and with the incredible support and encouragement of Associate Artistic Director, Sarah-Jayne Howard, I have the freedom to do it,” says Daniel.

The thematic nature of this production isn’t bound by narrative but rather weaves through the swelling highs and deep, silent lows of indigenous history. It’s putting the spotlight onto those who hold power, as well as exploring issues that reflect the voices of this talented group of dancers.

As Savage dancer Brianna Kell explains, when they enter the studio nothing is off limits. From coercion, censorship, myth and identity, each theme is representative of deep healing and meaningful exploration.

“It’s this concept of the ‘violence of forgetting’, and how we as Australians are sold one idea and how that is perceived, is (Daniel’s) first perspective. And then, because we are all very different and have diverse voices within the cast, our own personal experience is added into that exploration as well”.

“And they kind of left a lot of the detail out so that we could come at the picture from many different angles, and that’s been an interesting way of working. At the moment, there’s not a specific narrative, that being a narrative that moves between A to B, but there are definitely considered themes”.

The composer for this production, James Howard, works in harmony with the collaborative nature of this production. His intimate understanding of what themes hold power and which work better as subtle undertones is evident in every beat, rhythm, and insightful composition. The end result is a soundtrack that has been deeply considered and discussed by Daniel and the ADT dancers.

“The ideas and conversations spark movements in the studio. And then James sends through the musical score, which we then work with, and then Dan goes back and forth with James to say ‘this is ambient and this is really moving us’. It’s this generous back and forth, and it’s a pleasure to work this way,” reflects Brianna.

Anchoring the challenging themes and deeply moving score is the production’s wildly beautiful style of contemporary dance.

“Our style of contemporary is honest, organic, and it’s quite earthbound, grounded in the floor. There are virtuosic moments within the material. But I feel like the honesty that comes out of the movement really transcends a physical shape.”

“We are really crafting from the experience and the emotion. It’s this internal place that then also resonates externally”.

As Brianna reflects on the journey that has been Savage, it becomes clear she’s a dancer who moves with introspection and is ready for change. And while this production doesn’t claim to have all the answers, it’s a bracing stone for a path towards a trailblazing future. Where despite the discomfort, we take a moment to pause and ponder, making meaningful noise within the silence of our history.

“It’s really given me the opportunity to do deep listening. And as a non-First Nations dancer, it’s my role to listen and to be ready to change. Some of the conversations have been confronting.

“And it’s important that we allow the confrontation of our history to highlight where we need to move as a country and as people. And as a community, we need to be ready for this change so that our history is not known as Terra Nullius—that’s outrageous!”