Review: Betwixt
Picture (L to R):Wanida Serce, Jazi Othman, Amy Zhang, Joshua Taliani and Huda Fadlelmawla (Image credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Mad Dance Festival (MDF) is back, including Pink Matter’s headlining Betwixt, which is promoted as bringing street dance indoors (into ‘a new realm of theatre’) as a collaboration between movement and the spoken word. Or what Huda Fadlelmawla (dancer and State poetry champ 2020 & 2021, also known as Huda The Goddess,) referred to, during the 2022 performance, as “a story of the in-between” and “a story of healing.”
The inaugural 2021 MDF included short creative development showing of Betwixt, which has now been developed into a compelling 60 minute show. In Betwixt, unfinished stories (the artists are between their past and their futures) touch on unresolved issues, and remind us of the importance of performers who transform their often-challenging personal experiences into bewitching forms of expression.
Street dance aficionados whooped, and spoken word fans both clicked and added the occasional groans of recognition and appreciation. And the rest of us just went along for the ride.
Personal insights from the performers were blended in a show that explores upbringing and identity. Huda was joined by fellow artists Wanida Serce (choreographer, performance artist, and founder of Pink Matter), Joshua Taliani (of the always fabulous Brisbane Vogue House of Alexander), Amy Zhang (movement artist and street dance choreographer) and Jazi Othman (a self-taught leading light of the Queensland freestyle community).
A list of highlights has to start with Huda’s powerful poetry—in particular the piece about memories, with lines including “moving days are never fun […] the first box is labelled culture” and references to the box “full of stapled smiles”. The dance was excellent, and each performer brought a different style and ethos to the show—in solos, duets, trios and full company moves, inspired by personal stories and illustrating fire, water, wind and earth. I particularly enjoyed Jazi’s ‘ocean’ solo and later electric krumping, Amy’s ‘soul on fire’ moves (just loved that piece by all five performers, who set the whole theatre alight), and Joshua’s waacking and vogue femme performances throughout (in particular the moves in response to the poem “to Dad”). Audience members were almost beside themselves with delight at the booty shaking—and if you haven’t yet seen Betwixt, just wait for the smoke haze which heralded the amazing trio performed by Wanida, Amy, and Joshua.
Picture (L to R): Wanida Serce and Huda Fadlelmawla (Credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Picture: Betwix (Credit: Creative Futures Photography).
Huda posed the question as to “what is art?” In Betwixt we understand art as emotional expression, communication, provocation, and fun. Betwixt is an enthralling blend of street dance, contemporary dance, and the spoken word…all set to a fantastic soundtrack, with great lighting and costumes. Unmissable.
Metro Arts and Mad Dance have a winner on their hands; MDF is a great celebration of Queensland street arts, connecting more general audiences with the ‘street scene.’ A bonus for the opening night crowd was the after-show DJ, and pop up Foundry Lane street performance by members of Pink Matter. So even if you don’t the chance to see Betwixt, there’s a wide range of events taking place across the ten days of the 2022 MDF (program and more detail available here).
Verdict: I highly recommend Betwixt. And if you miss it (closes 11 June), check out the Metro Arts website and get along to MDF ’22 (closes 18 June).
Audience information: Betwixt is only at Metro Arts for a short run as part of the 2022 Mad Dance Festival (10-11 June 2022, 7:30pm performances). Limited coarse language, adult themes, haze/smoke effects, strobe lighting effects (producers suggested 15+ suitability). Tickets $35 Adults, $30 Concession. 60 minutes (no interval). Post-show artist talk on 10 June 2022.
The reviewer attended the 9 June 2022 performance (7:30pm).