STEPS to present ‘Fights and Flights’
Celebrating 25 years in 2014, Perth-based STEPS Youth Dance Company will present a stunning fusion of dance, theatre and Kung Fu with Fights and Flights at the Heath Ledger Theatre in May.
To mark the milestone, STEPS will bring back five notable alumni to feature in the work, including Belgium-based James O’Hara (currently with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui) and U.K.-based Sofie Burgoyne (of Frantic Assembly and the Henri Oguike Company.)
Fights and Flights is a celebration of life and the incredible battles and immense achievements that make it rich and satisfying. It acknowledges the notion that difficult fights may lead to beautiful flights.
The production weaves together stories of the deepest darkness and the brightest light and will see 65 performers aged 7-30 bring to life a beautiful, terrifying and thrilling roller coaster ride of flights and fights, their intimate truths and epic universalities.
Fights and Flights is created by a team of choreographers and designers – set, lighting, sound and costume – under the direction of STEPS Artistic Director Alice Lee Holland, who has collaborated with the company of young dancers.
STEPS’ biggest project to date, this production of Fights and Flights will include the current youth company also working with Kung Fu specialist Sifu Daniel King and dramatist Shona Erskine. Other than O’Hara and Burgoyne, other guest dancers include James Pham, Natalie Allen and Tyrone Robinson.
Fights and Flights will be presented by STEPS on Saturday, May 10 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 11 at 5 p.m. It is the ultimate culmination of STEPS’ important 25-year history and will commemorate a major milestone, demonstrating West Australian dance theatre excellence. For more information, visit stepsyouthdance.com.au.
STEPS Youth Dance Company is also seeking to raise $5,000 to support the production costs of this project. It has launched a Pozible campaign where donations can be made. Various fun rewards are offered, including season posters, company t-shirts, a peek behind the scenes, workshops for young people and of course, tickets to see the show. To find out more, visit www.pozible.com/project/179965.
Photo by David French, courtesy of STEPS Youth Dance Company.