All of life’s a stage

Commotion: A Michael Parmenter Retrospective.

Michael Parmenter's life has been one of artistic invention and personal re-invention. Over two decades of creative endeavour the acclaimed dancer and choreographer introduced theatrical elements and spoken word into his challenging and critically acclaimed dance works.

And with the retrospective dance programme Commotion in the AK05 Festival, Parmenter sees a closure on one particular part of his career and the opportunity to continue moving into other areas of expression.

"I've been trying over the years to make forays into opera," he laughs, "and feel I am an opera director who hasn't had the opportunity to have a go yet. I've made a couple of ventures to Europe in that regard, because I don't seem to be getting the opportunities to do it here.

"So this retrospective feels like a summing up of that period of my life. I don't feel drawn to make big company pieces like I have made in the past. I do want to make them, but they would be ones involving singers, dancers and the theatrical environment created by the opera house stage. I want to explore that multi-media type of work rather than pure, abstract dances."

Given that Parmenter is moving on, Commotion offers that rare opportunity to re-consider some of his past highlights in a programme that includes The Dark Forest, Tantra, Fields of Jeopardy, and Svedebka, which is set to Stravinsky's Les Noces.

And for the programme a number of dancers from the original productions have returned home. Some of the works will be close to the original versions, but others - because of the availability of dancers - will be substantially different.

"When I first did Svedebka I only had student dancers and two men, so I had eight women playing men. That piece is going to change hugely now that I have professional dancers, and mature dancers playing the parents.

"I chose the works for the programme first, although I had a fair idea of who was available. But I really wanted to concentrate on the larger ensemble pieces.

"There are a couple of smaller works there, but what we are missing in contemporary dance at the moment is the occasion to work with larger groups. I have had those opportunities over the past 15 years and this seemed like a chance to celebrate three generations of dancers.

"There are so many extraordinary dancers around now, but a lot of our leading dancers had gone overseas and this was a great opportunity to get some of them back while also using some of the wonderful people who are still here in the country.

"I chose works that are a microcosm of society, really. One is about a wedding, one is about a family - they connect with some of the themes of my company work about community."

The time gap between Parmenter inviting dancers back from overseas and when funding was finalised meant a few had to take up other offers of international work, but he is delighted that he has the opportunity to again work with so many of those who danced in the pieces originally.

"This has also been an opportunity to look around for some newer dancers, and also to work with established people like Kilda Northcott and Cris Jannides, who go right back to Limbs and Impulse days. And one of my favourite dancers, Clare O'Neill - who is working in Europe and has been in a lot of my work - is coming back.

"There are certain dancers like her who inspire you and I wish I could dance the way she does. Someone I haven't worked with a lot but is a close friend is Cris, who has been around as long as people have been doing contemporary dance in New Zealand.

"He's been office-bound, directing a course at Unitec, but he has thrown himself into the studio with gusto and he is just amazing. He's hurting like hell, but he's going to be extraordinary." 

* What: Commotion: A Michael Parmenter Retrospective

* Who: Choreographed by Michael Parmenter. Featuring 18 of NZ's finest dancers.

* When: Wednesday, March 9, to Saturday, March 12, 7.30pm. Matinee Saturday, March 12, 2pm

* Where: SkyCity Theatre