Stage: Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre presents ULTRA at the National Arts Festival 2024

Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre’s ULTRA will be presented at National Arts Festival, Makhanda 2024: The 50^th anniversary of NAF. There are four performances at NAF, at Graeme College. This work is part of the Curated Programme: Justice and Hope. I saw ULTRA at Woordfees and was mesmerized by this powerful dance theatre piece. Read on for more. Info as supplied:

Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre presents ULTRA at the National Arts Festival

Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre is proud to present ULTRA at the National Arts Festival which this year celebrates 50 years in June.

ULTRA will form part of the Curated Programme, themed Justice and Hope. This live art performance incorporates multimedia elements and an original score by music artist Brydon Bolton, combining to draw viewers into an immersive experience.

ULTRA is produced by Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre and will be performed from June 20-22 at Graeme College.

This performance tour of ULTRAis made possible thanks to a grant from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) and supported by the National Arts Festival.

ULTRA exposes the physicality of extremes. The performance transcends beyond its own range of limits, seeking to balance the tension between extreme and moderate. The work echoes our current climate of extremist, reactionary colliding, and tests to what degree, the moderate and the revolutionary can co-exist. ULTRA conjures a virtual reality where the performers’ humanness is continuously interrupted by an omnipresent machine.

“The concept for the production stems from an interest in the nuances and complexities of how societies function, both on the real and virtual planes. A moment of extremes, in many forms and guises, this work seeks to understand our physicality within that,” says Louise Coetzer, co-founder of Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre.

“The Darkroom Contemporary company dancers deliver a performance that is at once refined, truthful, and fervent.”

With Concept, Direction and Choreography by Louise Coetzer, ULTRA features an original score by Brydon Bolton.  It is performed by Bronwyn Craddock, Darion Adams and Gabrielle Fairhead.

Visuals are by Oscar O’Ryan and Keshet Karidi. Costumes are realised by Henri Design.

ULTRA performance dates are:

June 20 at 19h00;

June 21 at 12h00 & 19h00;

June 22 at 13h00

Tickets cost R120

Bookings can be made at https://tickets.nationalartsfestival.co.za/en/events/218/ultra

An enthralling production, ULTRA is a continuation of Louise Coetzer’s research into the use of new technologies, interdisciplinarity and media applications as presentation tools. The result is a deeply engaging sonic and visual journey punctuated by the performers’ intense physicality.

ULTRA connects the form to the world outside the theatre – an exploration of placing dance in surprising juxtaposition with everyday life, both real and virtual.

“riveting and intriguing dance theatre…. I want to see this piece again” Robyn Cohen, The Cape Robyn https://thecaperobyn.co.za/review-the-stickiness-of-connections-and-disconnections-in-ultra-by-darkroom-contemporary-dance-theatre/

“True to the style of work are renowned for, ULTRA merges dance theatre with interdisciplinary live art, technology, and elements of sound design to offer audiences a uniquely immersive experience. ULTRA exists at the intersection between live art, durational sound installation, physical theatre and visual art,” says Coetzer.

“Brydon’s experimental sound score drives the work and frames the audience experience; at times anxious, calm, meditative or pulsating. The result is a deeply engaging sonic and visual journey.”

Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre is a multiple award-winning company which was formed as a vehicle to reimagine Dance, through its innovative approach to staging and presenting Interdisciplinary Works. Darkroom Contemporary creates unique audience experiences representing Dance through Live Art, Screendance, Interdisciplinary & Tech – Based Performance, and Site – Specific & Public Performance.

Projects spearheaded by the founders Louise Coetzer and Oscar O’Ryan provide platforms to create opportunities for skills development and exchange among all artists involved. An emphasis on the use of New Technology and Digital Media frames their artistic approach, with a focus on three pillars of activation – Performance, Film and Development.

* Commissioned by the SA State Theatre for the Kucheza Afrika Festival, and the TOYOTA US Woordfees (2023), with support from the National Arts Council and the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport. This performance tour is made possible through support from the National Arts Festival and the National Lotteries Commission. 

* Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre is grateful to the funders, sponsors and partners who support its programmes and projects: 

The National Lotteries Commission of South Africa, The National Arts Council of South Africa, The Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, Dance For All South Africa, The Western Cape Government Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport, The National Arts Festival, The City of Johannesburg, The Toyota US Woordfees, The South African State Theatre.

NOTE: ULTRA carries a Flashing Light Warning – the work uses multimedia and lighting effects that may disturb photosensitive viewers.

ULTRA will be performed from June 20-22 at Graeme College.

Bookings can be made at https://tickets.nationalartsfestival.co.za/en/events/218/ultra

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LOUISE COETZER is a multidisciplinary Dance Artist working within the genres of Site-Specific Performance, Digital & Live Art, Choreography for the Stage, and Screendance. Her works are experiential, experimental, and place interdisciplinary approaches at their core, while grappling with the tensions between the physical and psychological, and mankind’s place within the universe and metaverse.

Her research on the use of New Technologies and Media Applications as presentation tools, is ongoing. A focus on broadening audience interest in Dance, by connecting the form to the world outside the Theatre, informs her explorations of placing Dance in surprising juxtaposition with everyday life, both real and virtual. Her works are recognisable for their distinct physicality, intricately woven counterpoints and the conjuring of unexpected domains her performers inhabit, and she has produced works incorporating Kinetic Motion Sensor Technology, Full Dome 3D Projection, Interactive Laser Projection, Interactive Projection Mapping, Telematic Performance, Gaming, Interactive Sound Installation and Artificial Intelligence.

Coetzer trained as a dancer and obtained a B. Tech Degree in Dance, with Movement Composition as Major, from the Pretoria Technikon. She is currently living and working in Cape Town. She is founding Artistic Director of Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre, an Award-Winning Company formed as a vehicle to reimagine Dance, through its innovative approach to staging and presenting Interdisciplinary Works. Coetzer is a Guest Lecturer at the University Of Cape Town’s Centre for Theatre Dance and Performance Studies and has taught as part of the faculties of the Cape Academy of Performing Arts, Dance For All, Western Cape Education Department, Cape Junior Ballet, City Varsity and AFDA.

PERFORMANCE

Recent commissions include new works for the Kucheza Afrika Festival, Pan African Telematic Art Project, CREATIVATE at the National Arts Festival, Zeitz MOCAA, and the Iziko Planetarium. Her Performances and Installations have been showcased at the Zeits Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, the Centre For The Less Good Idea, Dance Umbrella, Kucheza Afrika Festival, Baxter Dance Festival, the National Arts Festival, Ars Electronica (Linz,Austria), Fak!ugesi Festival of African Digital Innovation, and the Norval Foundation, and was awarded Best Live & Interdisciplinary Art Production at Vrystaat Kunstefees 2022.

FILM

Coetzer is an award winning Dance Film maker and her Video Art and Screendance works have been presented at festivals worldwide. Awards include the POOL 22 Artist Award at POOL Movement Art Film Festival Berlin (Germany), Best of Festival Award at Third Coast Dance Film Festival (Nevada, USA); Best Film Award at Under The Dome Festival (SA); and Jury Awards at Denton Black Film Festival (Texas, USA); and Danceador Videodance Festival (USA). Her Film works have been presented by Video Art Miden (Greece), 40 North Festival (Calif. USA), Foreign Exchange (Paris, France), Ubumuntu Arts Festival (Kigali,Rwanda), Agite Y Sirva (Oaxaca, Mexico), The British Film Institute (London, UK) and Global Art & Moving Images (Pinsio, Finland).

WEB : www.louisecoetzer.com

DARKROOM CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE is an award winning, interdisciplinary Company formed as vehicle to reimagine Dance, through its innovative approach to staging and presenting contemporary works. Darkroom Contemporary challenges perceptions on how Dance is viewed, by creating unique audience experiences, and new ways of representing Dance through Live Art, Screendance, Interdisciplinary & Tech – Based Performance, and Site – Specific & Public Performance.

The organisation was founded in 2010 by Louise Coetzer and Oscar O’Ryan, in Cape Town, South Africa. Coetzer, a Dancer and Choreographer, and O’Ryan, a Photographer and Filmmaker, bring together expertise from their respective fields to form a dynamic partnership. Projects spearheaded by the founders provide platforms and create opportunities for skills development and exchange among all artists involved. An emphasis on the use of New Technology and Digital Media frames their artistic approach, with a focus on three pillars of activation:

PERFORMANCE                                                                                                                   

Darkroom Contemporary is a research & development Dance Company, exploring how Dance can merge with Technology to enhance its Live Performance and Film works. To date, the Company has produced works incorporating Kinetic Motion Sensor Technology, Full Dome 3D Projection, Interactive Laser Projection, Interactive Projection Mapping, Telematic Performance, Gaming, Interactive Sound Scaping and Artificial Intelligence; showcased at Ars Electronica (Linz, Austria); National Arts Festival, Zeits MOCAA, Norval Foundation, Centre for the Less Good Idea, Fa’kugesi Festival of African Digital Innovation, Pan African Creative Exchange, Kucheza Afrika Festival, Ubumuntu Arts Festival (Kigali, Rwanda) and Dance Umbrella.

FILM                                                                                                                                                   

An extensive & award winning body of Dance Film works exist alongside the Company’s Performance Repertoire, making the work accessible to a larger global audience through the mediums of Film and Digital Media. The Company’s Film works have featured at POOL Tanzfilm Festival Berlin (Germany); Festival Miden (Kalamata, Greece); Dance Days Chania ( Crete); Under the Dome Festival of Immersive Films; Denton Black Film Festival (Texas, USA); Antidote Festival (Netherlands); 40 North Festival (California USA); Agite Y Sirva ( Mexico); Foreign Exchange ( Paris, France); Global Art and Moving Images Awards ( Finland); U- Dance on Screen (UK); and the British Film Institute (UK).

DEVELOPMENT                                                                                                                   

The Company consistently explores new avenues to make Dance accessible to all, through its Artistic Output, Educational Activities and Developmental Initiatives. Darkroom Contemporary is a registered Non Profit Organisation and Public Benefit Organisation with the objectives to provide opportunities for trained performers and arts practitioners, while encouraging audiences to appreciate and support the art of Dance. The Company’s Development Initiatives provide platforms and create opportunities for skills development and exchange among all involved. These Development Initiatives include facilitating Youth Development through Arts Education, encouraging audience expansion through free Public Art activations, and raising the profile of Dance through its interactive approach tailored to the Digital Age.

AWARDS:

• Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport : Cultural Awards 2023. Winner: Most Innovative Contribution to Dance
• POOL Movement Art Film Festival Berlin (Germany): POOL Artist Award 2022 awarded to Louise Coetzer & Oscar O’Ryan, for unique contribution to the genre of screen dance
• Vrystaat Kunstefees 2022: Winner: Best Interdisciplinary & Live Art Production
• Toyota US Woordfees 2023 : Woordtrofees Nomination: Best achievement in Dance

✳ Sponsored content. Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre’s ULTRA. Pics by Oscar O’Ryan. Supplied.