The grass is always greener on the other side. But with Perth’s Taffyworks, the grass is greener here.
From Kathleen Szalay’s Taffyworks comes a new multimedia dance work exploring this age-old proverb in a modern context. Aptly titled The Fence, Kathleen invites us to take a peek into the backyard of her home state in Maine, where the grass is indeed very green, and getting greener.
In the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre we find three wooden boxes sitting side by side, with traces of a white picket fence in their design. As we peer into these boxes, we find in each a tablet screen and Kathleen dancing from one to another. Shot from birds eye view by independent Perth filmmaker Fionn Mulholland, we really do feel as though we’re looking in on the three different little worlds the dancer moves between.
Elise Reitze’s music completes this modern music box, subtly intertwining themes of childhood fantasy into haunting reverberations. We follow Kathleen between her boxes as the green becomes greener and both fireflies and shadows try to capture her attention and ours. What effect do we have as the one peering over the fence? Is it us invoking her longing? Or is she just a victim of her own curiosity?
The Fence installation will run from 19th September-2nd October in the foyer of Mandurah
Performing Arts Centre. Five special interactive performances will bring the installation to life at MPAC’s “A Swell Day Out” on Sunday, 25th September.
Event Information:
When: 19th September – 2nd October (with performances 25th September)
Where: Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
Cost: FREE
For more info, contact Kathleen at 0424501167 or taffyworks@gmail.com
This project has been funded by the Western Australian Government through the Department of Culture and the Arts and is supported by Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.
The community of Ausdance WA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of all Lands and Countries on this continent. We pay particular respect to Elders, Cultural and Community Leaders, and emerging leaders. With this understanding of the country’s First Peoples, we are grateful for our place in learning and serving dance, Arts and Culture in Western Australia.
Always Was. Always Will Be.
