After watching So You Think You Can Dance on TV like a religious bandit, I decided to race down to see some of Melbourne’s ULITMATES take the stage in “Parkland Avenue,” a new piece of unique, contemporary theatre from Collaboration the Project.

A professional choreographer on “So You Think You Can Dance”, Paul Malek has performed all over the world. From cruise liners, to being Rehearsal director for the Jean-Ann Ryan company in Miami, Malek has given a true identity to the face of contemporary dance. His wealth of training and experience was all brought to life in “Parkland Avenue”.

Have you ever felt pure natural ecstasy through the love of friendship? Have you achieved hope and life through the beauty of always having friends that take you along for the ride no matter what? Or have you ever fallen short and chosen the wrong path? If you have managed to answer yes to any of these, then chances are, Parkland Avenue is something you should see.

Parkland Avenue is a breakthrough in Contemporary dance. This well crafted piece has given a new meaning to what we call a dance performance. Enforcing the quote, “Your actions speak so loud, I can’t hear a word your saying,” I was completely teleported into the world of “Parkland Avenue.”

The soundtrack, including Karen O, Florence & the Machine and John Mayer was so well crafted and the story was so effortlessly and beautifully told. This moving, truthful experience genuinely tells the story of love, beautiful friendships and what can happen to a person when their dreams and aspirations are shattered.

”Parkland Avenue” is beautifully performed by a radical cast. Brendan Yeates’ performance produces a slick current of male dominance as he bursts on the stage with imaginative storytelling. Ashleigh Perry plays the apple in everyone’s eye, a stunning young woman who blazes across the stage, producing a colour of feeling among the audience. Last, but not least, Matt Holly gives a notably overwhelming performance as he delves into a place of complete loss.

All three performances present a new breed of dancer. That is, a dancer who can express their emotions through intelligent choreography and superb acting.

After watching and experiencing this show, I had a quick chat with the talented writer, producer and choreographer, Paul Malek:

How do you originate a piece like Parkland Avenue?

“Actually Riki It’s based loosely on passed experiences; friendships people that have moved in and out of my life”

Now Paul tell me how do you manage to choose a soundtrack full of the vibrancy and shades of colour that you decipher?

Well Riki I actually sit down with my laptop and search for hours hunting through artists on ITunes to find songs I like and then buy them and make them fall into my puzzle of dance.

Tell me Paul, how do you devise with your performers on a project like Parkland Avenue?

Oh Riki… It’s just like any performance I direct my artists sometimes obliviously with the freedom of exploration but mostly I choreograph and direct scene by scene generating flow and persuasion.

As an audience member, what did you want me to leave feeling and thinking about?

To have witnessed a slice of completely beautiful life, and that’s exactly what I left thinking and feeling “Beauty”. Paul Maleks extremely wholesome tale of the most universal hopes of finding and living for amazing friendships and love was brought to life and I cannot express enough how much after seeing this piece that I wanted to get up and dance throw myself around a room and jump in the air and fall in love.

Thanks.

Yours Radically,

Riki B

Parkland Avenue is still running at Theatre works- 14 Acland Street in St Kilda until Saturday the 25th of April. It’s a definite must see.

Photos from the astonishing Belinda Strodder from -
www.dancephotography.net.au
Other information can be found at
www.collaboration-project.com and www.theatreworks.org.au




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