WAAPA presents two shows this spring

The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) will soon present two dance shows. The first on October 21-24 is the Australian premiere of Shanghai Bolero, which will be performed under the stars amongst the plane trees in the front garden of the Fremantle Arts Centre. The second, Flourish, will feature various pieces as part of WAAPA’s 2015 dance season finale and will be November 14-21 at Geoff Gibbs Theatre.

Set to the iconic orchestral music of Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero”, Shanghai Bolero will be performed by LINK Dance Company. A triptych of epic proportions, it was created by French choreographer Didier Théron for the World Expo in China in 2010.

Initially separated by gender, Shanghai Bolero brings both male and female dancers together in its final section, which alternates between stillness and movement and brings into question desire and beauty of the human form. 

Flourish, on the other hand, will be performed by WAAPA Dance students. It will present choreography by Sue Healey, Sue Peacock and Marius Petipa. Andries Weidemann has remounted Petipa’s Paquita for a festive end to WAAPA’s season closer. 

For more information on Shanghai Bolero, visit Fremantle Arts Centre’s website at http://www.fac.org.au/. For more information on Flourish, visit www.waapa.ecu.edu.au.

Photo: Shanghai Bolero. Photo by Tim Somerset.