Nothing Twice
Robert Bondara
Nothing can ever happen twice.
In consequence, the sorry fact is that we arrive here improvised and leave without the chance to practice.
Excerpt from Nothing Twice by Wisława Szymborska
Time is an incredibly complex and fascinating concept that can be examined from countless perspectives; philosophy, science, religion, biology, even our subjective feelings and experiences. All these explorations have become a wellspring of inspiration, culminating in this new work, Nothing Twice.
Its origins stem from analysing time as the rhythm of the day. Studying the DNA responsible for our daily activities. Looking at time from the perspective of relativity theory, and delving into numerous philosophical concepts. This provided me with an excellent foundation to work on the formal solutions of choreography, its structure, but also prompted many reflections on what time truly is from the standpoint of our experience and existence.
Ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus taught, panta rhei - everything flows. The whole world is in motion, subject to constant changes over time, where the present is just a thin line separating the past from the future. This present moment is fascinating and elusive to me at the same time – reading this sentence, its beginning has already become the past, living only in our memory, while the present rushes forward in constant motion.
On the other hand, do we really live in the present all the time? Often, our consciousness travels through time, focusing our attention on what has been, or projecting into the future, trying to envision potential scenarios of what might happen. How many times have we speculated about what could have happened if we had made different decisions in the past...? Especially in today’s world and in the face of modern technology, it is an incredibly challenging task to be consciously present here and now.
Heraclitus also reminds us that we cannot step into the same river twice. Time passes, its passing is inevitable.
mattering
James O'Hara
We sat on the beach and looked above us at the night sky and laughed at the weight we felt within us and the density we’d built between us.
37 trillion cells.
2 trillion galaxies.
Dancing
This is recycled.
There is movement in thought and feeling (and) the body.
What is dying is still dancing.
We are wasting.
Do we believe to have hope?
This is a wasteful monument
of a meaningful meeting.
This is disposable.
It will linger.
“Life has never been All or Nothing- it’s All and Nothing. Forget the binaries"
Jeanette Winterson,
The Stone Gods
CARNIVALE.6
In collaboration with Co3 Contemporary Dance Australia and Co3 Artistic Director Raewyn Hill
Welcome to the transcendent world of CARNIVALE, a work that has journeyed through time and crossed borders, evolving with each step of its remarkable odyssey since its debut in 2012. Originally conceived as Fugue, this piece found its genesis in the captivating rhythms of Ravel’s Bolero, its energy pulsating through the stage as part of David McAllister’s 50th anniversary celebration program for The Australian Ballet.
Every time I return to this piece, I embark on a journey of rediscovery. We start with the familiar, building upon the foundations laid by previous iterations. As the cast evolves, so too does the essence of the work, transforming slowly yet inexorably into the spectacle you witness tonight.
Inspired by the enigmatic allure of the historical dancing plague of 1518, CARNIVALE.6 beckons you into a realm where history intertwines with modernity. In this latest iteration, we delve deeper into the fabric of communal celebration, drawing upon the iconic Tarantella as our muse. What an honour it has been to have David McAllister generously teach the version he danced in Russia in 1985, infusing the work with his interpretation and insight. Bonding yet another layer into the rich tapestry of this work’s journey.
I am grateful to have this opportunity to bring together the dance artists of Co3 and West Australian Ballet. As they converge upon the stage, they embark on a relentless journey towards collective catharsis. CARNIVALE.6 propels them to the zenith of physical and emotional intensity, a testament to the power of unity.