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Dancing in the dark

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Abu Dhabi Week takes a look at the innovative show that is stepping out of the shadows and into the capital

An elephant eating hay out of a bucket. A young girl who turns into a dog. A string of delusional chefs wielding sharp objects.

These are the scenes that pan out from behind a screen as dancers cast scintillating silhouettes by contorting themselves into an elephant’s trunk and a sitting dog wagging its tail.

Dubbed the ‘first theatrical event of its kind’, it’s difficult to categorise the innovative show that is Shadowland. Billed as a tale of illusion and dance, a blend of theatre, circus, concert and comedy, Shadowland is definitely unique.

The showcase comes from the award-winning dance troupe, Pilobolus, which has spent years experimenting with shapes and figures to bring audiences a contemporary representation of dance.

Pilobolus at joyce

The story

Shadowland uses various moving screens of different sizes and shapes to project silhouettes that distort reality. These moving images coupled with front-of-screen choreography tell the whimsical tale of a teenage girl who longs for the independency her parents are reluctant to give their little girl.

Preparing for bed, the girl falls asleep where her thoughts merge into dreams. As the wall of her room starts to spin, the girl is trapped on the other side and she soon sets off on a journey through the mysterious yet alluring Shadowland, trying to escape.

Out of the shadows comes a plethora of quirky characters across fantastical scenes that are at once comical yet frightening, evil yet comforting. The artistic dancers morph their bodies into silhouetted figures of memorable, cartoon-like people and objects that confront the young girl along her journey.

The story gently unfolds over the 90-minute show as the cast glides from one fluid scene to another assisted by the musical score from David Poe. The American musician, producer and film composer’s original soundtrack includes a range of work from ballads to rock that compliment each scene: crazy chefs trying to throw the young girl into their soup; a giant hand that turns her into a dog; and a centaur that befriends her.

Audiences may be struck by the show’s random storyline as each scene flits from kitchen to car ride to castle, but the show’s quirky portrayal of a dream’s lack of logic is precisely what sets it apart.

Pilobolus at joyce

Behind the scenes

Pilobolus is an award-winning American dance troupe formed in 1971 at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire.

In its continued efforts to challenge the way people interpret dance, the company began experimenting with the shadow form for several years before Shadowland was conceived. As part of the experiment, Pilobolus tested the art of light and movement when creating advertisements for Hyundai and performing at the 79th Annual Academy Awards, forming iconic images of Best Picture-nominated films including Little Miss Sunshine, Happy Feet and The Devil Wears Prada as well as the Oscar statue itself.

The new Shadowland creation reflected the company’s innovative approach to modern dance combined with multi-media and high-energy performances.

The inspiring dance company, which has been featured on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Oprah and Sesame Street, has been touring the world with Shadowland for the past three years, whisking over half a million fans across Europe, the Middle East and Asia away to its dream world.

The unique showcase is the result of a creative collaboration featuring some of the industry’s most talented individuals. The show’s writer is the creative mind behind the popular SpongeBob SquarePants show, which explains the various cartoon-like elements of the performance. Meanwhile, an experienced set designer, costume designer and composer join the company’s creative team to deliver the show’s fantasy theme and produce an unforgettable performance.

Aside from Pilobolus Dance Theatre, the original troupe that stages shows such as Shadowland, the company also comprises of Pilobolus Lab, which teaches its creative methods to both individuals and institutions. Pilobolus Lab has produced collaborations with the likes of master illusionists Penn & Teller and ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ author and illustrator, Maurice Sendak.

To learn more about Pilobolus, visit: www.pilobolus.org

Without a shadow of a doubt, this unique event is not to be missed. Being held as part of Abu Dhabi Summer Season, in collaboration with Alchemy Project and the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Shadowland will be performing from 8th to 16th August at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Tickets range from AED 150 for Silver, AED 300 for Gold, AED 500 for Platinum or AED 1,000 for Royal. To book, visit: www.tixbox.com/event/shadowland

Fun facts

  • The name PIlobolus comes from the term for a ‘barnyard’ fungus that shoots its spores with impressive speed and accuracy.
  • Pilobolus, the dance troupe, has toured its 115 shows to more than 64 countries in 42 years.
  • The company’s modern dance ‘Seraph’ won Best Robot Actor award at the 2012 Robot Film Festival.
  • Pilobolus holds the 2011 Guinness World Record for fitting the most people into a Mini Cooper: 26 in all!
  • The company has collaborated with Google, the US Olympic Committee, Avon and the NFL Network among others.
Rachael Peacock

 

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