REVIEW: ALL IN - Celebrating Dance's Universal Language

In a bold and ambitious production that embodies its title, Dance Makers Collective's All In transforms Parramatta Town Hall into a vibrant arena of cultural exchange and artistic innovation. The world premiere, running from January 22-25, 2025 as part of Sydney Festival, marks a significant milestone for DMC as NSW's only Four Year Funded dance company, and they've seized this moment to create something extraordinary.

Director Miranda Wheen has masterfully orchestrated a production that dissolves the boundaries between different dance traditions while celebrating their unique characteristics. The performance unfolds in the round, with the historic Town Hall's floor becoming a canvas for an array of movement styles that span continents and centuries.

As the audience enters, the evening begins with a thoughtful Acknowledgment of Country through indigenous-inspired choreography, setting a tone of respectful cultural exchange. This opening seamlessly flows into a marathon 30-minute contemporary piece that pushes the performers to their physical limits. A cast of eight magically grows to more than twenty on the floor. The dancers' endurance becoming a metaphor for human connection, their laboured breath adding an unexpected percussion to the sophisticated soundscape.

A particularly ingenious piece emerges when the performers tackle the age-old challenge of explaining contemporary dance. As their voices share often humorous attempts to justify and describe their art, the dancers execute a choreographed response to these spoken narratives. It's quite brilliant – while the voices offer explanations, the performers' provide eloquent answers through movement. The choreography abstractly captures the emotional undertones of their earnest attempts to communicate their passion. 

What then follows is a masterclass in fusion choreography. A particularly memorable sequence pits flamenco against Bharatanatyam in a 'dance-off' that highlights both the contrasts and surprising similarities between these traditional forms. Pepa Molina's fierce flamenco footwork creates a dialogue with the precise, geometric patterns of Indian classical dance, demonstrating how different cultural expressions of rhythm and passion can coexist and enrich each other.

The production's political consciousness emerges in a segment featuring traditional Palestinian dance, accompanied by projected supportive text that adds layers of meaning to the movements. This sequence serves not just as sensitive cultural statement, but as a reminder of dance's role in maintaining identity and resilience in the face of a challenge.

Benjamin Brockman's lighting design deserves special mention, transforming the Town Hall's architecture into an intimate, special space. The technical elements, from the balanced sound design to the acoustics, belie the venue's municipal origins, creating an environment where every footfall and gesture carries its full impact.

The production's finale is genius – a live DJ set accompanied by suggested dance-moves projected on a large screen, inviting the audience to join the performers in a collective celebration. This democratic approach to dance perfectly demonstrates the production's thesis about movement as a universal language and binding force.

All In features an impressive roster of collaborators, including Azzam Mohamed, Vishnu Arunasalam, Peta Strachan, producer Carl Sciberras and so many others, bringing their distinct cultural and choreographic perspective to the work, all of them with an obvious love of dance. The result is a living manifesto about the power of movement to transcend cultural, social, and political boundaries.

At its core, All In also asks profound questions about dance's universality and its power to build bridges between communities. Through its diverse choreographic languages and inclusive approach, it doesn't just pose these questions – it answers them with a resounding affirmation of dance's unique ability to unite, inspire, and transform. This production confirms Dance Makers Collective's position as a vital force, one that understands that true artistic innovation comes not just from technical excellence, but from genuine cultural exchange and community engagement.

Where:
Parramatta Town Hall
182 Church Street
Parramatta NSW 2150

Times:
Wednesday 22 January at 7:30pm
Thursday 23 January at 7:30pm
Friday 24 January at 7:30pm
Saturday 25 January at 2pm / 7:30pm

Duration:
1 hour, 10 minutes (no interval)

General Admission Full Price - $49
General Admisson Concession - $44
+ booking fee

Tickets: https://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/events/all-in

(Images: DMC/Sydney Festival. Video: That Show Blog)