Zip Zap Zoom

The dramatic limestone walls and grassed terraces of the Quarry Amphitheatre provide an idyllic setting for Zip Zap Zoom, the West Australian Ballet’s contribution to the Perth International Art Festival.

The two-hour show is split over two parts with the first divided into three shorter performances.  

Hold The Fourth (Daniel Roberts) exhibits a postmodern feel with the soundtrack bouncing between cathartic orchestral phrases and brooding, ominous synths while Steptext (William Forsythe) is a fragmented modern classic challenging the traditional conventions of performance. Rounding out the first half before interval is La Pluie (Annabelle Lopez Ochoa), two dancers in flesh-coloured costumes delicately and intimately entwining while it rains on stage.

After the interval, the dancers return with Zip Zap Zoom (Ochoa), the headlining piece in which dancers represent different avatars within a virtual world. Zip Zap Zoom is an ambitious fusion of ballet, hip hop and ballroom and offers a slight nod to musical theatre as more traditional theatrical roles are adopted. Whether intentional or not, the West Side Story-style dance-fighting and futuristic costumes aren’t without their comedic value. Regardless, it’s a unique and engaging concept. In its an entirety, the show is a little disjointed but each individual performance is stunning, diverse and executed with brilliant precision.

Quarry Amphitheatre to 28 Feb