Artist uses dance to explore creative process

Triumphs and Other Alternatives featuring WOW choreographer Ross McCormack.

Triumphs and Other Alternatives presents a dance work which is an analogy of the artists' creative process in a single performance at the Napier Municipal Theatre.

Part of the Harcourts' Hawke's Bay Arts Festival, Triumphs and Other Alternatives collides sculpture with gutsy performance to create an original and visceral new style of Physical Movement Theatre.

It is brought to us by Muscle Mouth, a New Zealand visual dance theatre company renowned for delivering groundbreaking physical theatre.

Ross McCormack performs the work's central character - he is the maker, creator, builder and artist who moulds and shapes his 'creations' - with fellow performers Emily Adams and Xin Ji.

He is at times joyful, delusional, narcissistic, hopeful and vulnerable in his quest for creative perfection.

The world premiere took place April 22, 2015, at the Hannah Playhouse, Wellington, and it has been performed at festivals around New Zealand and has received critical acclaim.

"A brilliant analogy of the artistic creative process ... McCormack is working in a medium that appears very fresh and remains unsullied by comparison with other choreographers."

DETAILS

• Hawke's Bay Arts Festival

• Triumphs and Other Alternatives

• Napier Municipal Theatre

• Wednesday, October 12, 7.30pm

Theatreview, October 2015, and " ... profoundly moving and vividly passionate." Regional News.

McCormack is one of New Zealand's leading next generation performance makers.
His extensive career includes 10 years performing with the acclaimed Belgian company Les Ballets C de la B.

Throughout this time Ross maintained connections to New Zealand and Australia, choreographing and designing multiple works for companies in both countries and performing internationally.

In 2015 Ross was awarded the prestigious Creative New Zealand Choreographic Fellowship.

He collaborates with co-founder Jason Wright, a composer and sound artist working across performance, sound installation and videography and composed the soundscapes, and Natasha James, the light designer and production manager.

James has worked throughout New Zealand, Australia and Europe and is also a co-founder of Muscle Mouth.

• Triumphs and Other Alternatives is at Napier Municipal Theatre, Wednesday, October 12, tickets $45, concession $39.