At times balanced precariously (not just to take the ‘shot’ mind you) but really to capture the ‘innovative essence’, with all that said and done, meaningful procrastination aside, arcing to observe was in effect scrutinising the beauty of the interrogative form- the ability to foster engagement, encourage critical thinking, and with audience members invited to contribute counsels, something more acute and telling fashioned the form of Hatchwork 25.
What’s come to be expected from the Hatchwork series, is a platform where artists can really delve into areas of communicating a lot more than the proficient rigours of dance, denoting what we have, here is connecting beyond the absolute choreography and the lurid production, offering a conduit for self-expression, resulting in ‘we’; the audience wanting more from our collective perspectives, and this is where the Hatchwork ethos comes to fruition; the demand of the audience for something more applied, more intelligent, more shrewd has been elevated by the possibility of what a performance can offer.
Regardless of the exonym to describe the form, having dance convey, if you will the fabric of society, or the mood of community, is all borne out of the effectiveness into what can be coined as ‘exploratory art’, and it is this probing talent that remarks the exceptional, but more importantly the intuitive nature of the Hatchwork series. Profoundly, we the audience are a part of a community living in exceptional times, the consequence of which is not lost on anybody’s sentiment, as such, the roles, and meanings that emotions have, add to the maintenance and effective functioning of our societies, and culture at large, in effect becoming imperative for the narrative that art uses, consequently the “audience” demands more from their performers, of whom should demonstrate unanimous perceptions.
And we say this to say what?
The Hatchwork project has raised a metaphoric ‘bar’, insanely artistic as it is, and now the benchmark sits adjacent to the notion that the ‘audience’ has grown spiritedly, and with it a collective appreciation for self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation and empathy, all of which lend to the prospect of managing emotions, and understanding the sentiments of people around you, of which speaks to the Hatchwork language, the exceptional narrative hard pressed to be found anywhere else.
Admittedly, affording the simple dynamics of a performance- to be entertained- the idea is not to display innovative work, featuring remarkable movement architects, only for it to resemble a group therapy meeting, backdrop dance beats and strobe light for added histrionics. And yet, if not but for the love of the art, theatrical therapy is a description not too dissimilar from the actuality, whether it’s the distinguishing character, the sentiment or the moral personality to be unpicked, it is the quintessential dance architect, that very same somebody articulating likewise passion, similar pride or even same quiet desperation, the latter speaking of deep, meaningful connections to be had, the analogy being if you see yourself mirrored, often and creatively enough, you’re going to begin to recognise who you are, and municipally intertwined as we are the audience thoroughly enjoy it.
Hatchwork 25 is a powerful exploration of human nature, and Birdgang’s continued commitment to innovative art forms/hip-hop theatre, speaks to the reality that the audience is a culturally, diverse community, and to have that community mirrored to you, with precision, grace, and a chaos conveyed with humility, speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, maybe causing you to name something that previously felt difficult to name, maybe upon evaluation returning to the start of ‘your story’, to find what you said you were looking for, to say you’ll keep looking, maybe flip the power ratio, consequently change the point of view. Whatever reaction from the Hatchwork experience it remains as diverse, and as revealing as the choreography performed, either way you are left with the “taste of spring” provoking an eager, inquisitive pallet.
Written by Jahvin Morgan
images by Jahvin Morgan Photography
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