Portia And Pals Strut Their Stuff
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday February 21, 2000
QUEERBITS
Icebox
February 18
One Extra Company didn't wait to be told by an Australia Council report released last week to take its artform out of theatres to other venues where people gather.
Not for the first time, One Extra is presenting dance in the Kings Cross nightclub, Icebox, the first of three Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival events, was held there on Friday.
As the Queerbits program turned out on the night, it wasn't quite as unusual as intended in that there was less contemporary dance and more in the way of club acts. But it was generally entertaining and paved the way for more adventurous programming over the next two Friday nights.
Tang go Go Girls, choreographed by Virginia Ferris, who is also curator of Queerbits, was the most successful in that it combines a strong, sexy theme with interesting contemporary dance. Customers on the dance floor gave way to Sharon Hardy and Cecilie Farrar in their sinuous, feisty, skilfully executed duet.
Ian Knowles's male trio of Spanish Lovers is a slick commercial number, irresistibly enjoyable and a good ambassador for dance in any venue. Annetta Luce's Moist Windows, for a quartet of women, appeared to be less concerned with the quality of dance than its portrayal of female sexuality.
Paul Cordeiro did an amusing semi-strip in Religi-con, his monkish garb tossed away to reveal most of his well-honed body only to have the final layer teasingly wound back on again.
Taylor Maid spent the evening transforming himself to herself at one of the bar tables a fascinating exercise in make-up artistry before stepping out in silver bikini, feathers and high heels for a posturing mime, The Wrongest Girl in the World.
All of this was powered along by the compering of dynamic Pymble personality Portia Turbo, sheathed in sequins and bristling with barbed comments. ``Celebrating 11 years in drag!" shouts her biographical note. And the way she twirled through Don't Rain On My Parade, every one of them has been a building block to a polished, precisely timed, audience friendly performance.
In between Queerbits items, there was the usual chat, sipping of cocktails and dancing amongst the customers. Will it help swell audiences at contemporary dance? Hard to say. But there's no harm and good fun in giving it a go.
© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald
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