Queensland Ballet are back with the highly anticipated return of 'Bespoke', a triple bill showcasing the myriad talents of leading Australian choreographers (Paul Boyd, Natalie Weir, and Remi Wörtmeyer), alongside the amazing athleticism of the talented company dancers at the new Talbot Theatre in Brisbane.
Remi Wörtmeyer, an Adelaide native and award-winning choreographer, returns to Australia with the 'Miroirs' world premiere as part of 'Bespoke'. The former Principal Dancer, most recently with the Dutch National Ballet, has had many acclaimed works performed across the world in ballet companies, and international galas – but there’s more to the multi-passionate creative than meets the eye.
While 'Miroirs' (French for mirrors) is a non-narrative piece, there are inspirations of reflection, reflecting both literally in the metallicity of the costumes and chain set, and in the idea of seeing our world – our narcissism and relationships – in reflection.
“Working in fashion and designing for couture houses, directing runway shows and films for Paco Rabanne and G-Star Raw – these kinds of things, alongside creating various ballets around the world – have given me a deeper vocabulary and different perspective,” Remi describes.
Image © Jakob Perrett
Having worked with Queensland Ballet’s 'Nutcracker' season, the collaboration for 'Miroirs' was well in hand before the untimely interruption of COVID-19, making this work years in the making. Wörtmeyer not only choreographed 'Miroirs', but also designed its set and costume, making the experience a fully-sculpted design from start to finish – including live music performed on stage by Daniel Le (pianist).
“The dancers are brilliant in both dance and their creative minds – it has been a pleasure to work with them and Queensland Ballet, and be back home in Australia.”
The work allows the audience to be led blindly through an orchestrated maze of different relationships, across lifetimes – as in relationships, we tend to see ourselves reflected back through our partner's eyes. With a central piece, an ode to Wörtmeyer’s jewellery design work and background in sculpture, 'Miroirs' is an inspired tale of liquid metal, self-reflection, and the musical works of Maurice Ravel (Miroirs suite, c. 1904/5).
“With this piece, because I am also designing the costumes and set, it’s all kind of one vision. Because I’m also a sculptor, I like to see it as a sculpture, as one piece sort of way – and 'Miroirs' is that,” Remi says.
Image © Jakob Perrett
“When you’re working on a sculpture, you’re really building something up, you’re shaping it, you’re modelling it, and as a dancer that’s how I’ve spent my life. Trying to shape my body, creating an image within shaping the choreography, and dancing a certain way.
“And I think it all links together, there’s no separation in my mind between being a designer, being a sculptor, being a choreographer – they’re all melding together from the one vision of building a living sculpture [the stage, the performers], or a static sculpture [costuming, etc].”
Alongside Wörtmeyer’s ballet of metallurgy and soul, is Paul Boyd’s 'Tartan', and Natalie Weir’s 'Four Last Songs'.
Boyd’s work tells a loose narrative of an elderly Scottish gentleman who relives his past, and the ghosts of his youth returning. Weir’s work is multifaceted, with many interconnecting motifs, with a core inspiration around Richard Strauss’ musical composition of four songs.
'Bespoke' in 2023 stays true to its namesake, being a kaleidoscope of connection, introspection, and evocation of the human spirit.
'Bespoke' is on at Talbot Theatre (Thomas Dixon Centre, Brisbane) 27 July-5 August.
