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DANCE THAT WON'T BE HELD DOWN

TENT: A structure held aloft by tension. Like ropes and poles our very muscles and bones sustain our bodies against the fall. We live our lives strung between freedom and necessity, beauty and terror, memory and desire.

Spontaneous, ephemeral, mercurial, TENT is life on a knife edge. Pitching into the wild realm between order and chaos, TENT is dance in a state of flux. Charting the fragile and precarious space between bodies, TENT is about life when there's nothing to hold on to….except life itself.

TENT is a major performing arts event - a new work from acclaimed choreographer Michael Parmenter performed by a company of leading contemporary dancers. Michael Parmenter's first new work since Jerusalem is a not to be missed date in the 2008 dance calendar.

TENT PREMIERES IN WELLINGTON TO ENTHUSIASTIC REVIEWS AND AUDIENCES

"... sequences of compelling beauty, particularly solos and duos. Craig Bary phrasing his movement to music of Bach and Sarah Foster to her own heartbeat are exceptionally memorable... The lively score composed by Eden Mulholland...set design by John Verryt and lighting by Nik Janiurek are fully and impressively integrated." Dominion Post

"As an ensemble the company dances supremely well.It takes a great deal of effort to make dance like this look as effortless as it does. There is also outstanding work by Craig Bary, Sarah Foster and Christopher Tandy... There is a brilliantly danced and disturbing section by Foster and three men; a wonderful solo by Tandy who is a fantastic dancer. His extremely flexible body is capable of spaghetti-like back bends and high extensions, unusual in a male dancer... there is a new vitality and youthful exuberance apparent." Theatreview

CRAIG BARY'S BLOG
10 Sep 2008
Melee

Well the weeks seem to be coming around fast and it is getting closer and closer to our opening night. Recently we have been working on the challenging task of turning improvisation piloting into set material, in the form of repeatable duet, trio, quartet and group phrases including solo material. we have mostly been working on a section which Michael is calling the 'Melee'. this is going to be a major part to the work of about a 10 - 15 minute section involving everyone. Michael is looking to create a layered, organic, seamless section which appears complex but clearly readable full of "Rhythmic variety" Last weekend some members of the company took a trip to the Coromandel with highlights including 'Hot water beach', Cathedral Cove, and the Spa bath at the Paradise Lodge in Coromandel Town. Our British company member was really impressed with the beautiful scenery New Zealand has to offer. Including a recent trip to Taupo where he was taken aback by the heat of the hot water springs leading into the freezing river of the impressive Huka falls. To keep the company members sweet, Felicity (our producer) has been supplying us with her famous baking. Particular favourites are the ANZAC and chocolate chip cookies (keep it coming Flic) It has been an intense last couple of weeks but the work is on a roll now. It's exciting to see what new challenges we face coming into the studio every day. Look out for an article in the Sunday Star Times this weekend. We had great interview this morning.

24 Aug 2008
First weeks

The development for Michael Parmenters new work TENT have begun. We have just finished our third week and it has been a great three weeks so far. Michael is really challenging the way he creates his work. He is using a lot of improvisation to find a vocabulary for the piece, and through these improvisations comes the story he wants to tell. This is new territory for Michael and is a new way to devise work for most of us. It's been really exciting to see what the 8 dancers have been coming up with and it's awesome to see the individuality coming through as well. We have an amazing cast of performers and each individual brings a difference to the process that is unique and something quite special. Combined to create a true feeling of community and Whanau. Most of the improvisation has been partner based techniques that Michael has devised himself, known to us as PILOTING. Thanks to some of the gorgeous work of Sarah Foster and Cris Tandy, we have even invented a new word describing a way of moving within the structure of the improvisations. RAWP (really awesome wriggly person) We have been doing most of our rehearsals at TAPAC in Western Springs. It’s a beautiful building that has stunning views of lush green grass, trees and many different types of birds. We have all been made to feel very at home here. Not an easy place to leave once we are done I’m sure. TENT looks to be an exciting show incorporating the improvisation throughout. At times it can be daunting to know where we will go next within the process, but I have to admit I am really loving the challenges that come with discovering what a work is within the development.

"Parmenter can organically process emotion into physical movement with a dynamic lyricism and joy that just overwhelms the viewer.
A LONG UNDRESSING - CAPITAL TIMES