Nothing is what it seems.
At the New Globe theatre, two very different artists took to the stage to perform ‘Crossfade’, an exploration into gender, clothing, the roles we assume and those thrust upon us.
Ana Wojak and Jessi Lewis communicated gender roles and the demands of society, through the intricate art of dance and body language. With only a tiny nine days to prepare and choreograph the performance, the pair executed it brilliantly.
Excited thespians and art-goers lined up at the entrance of the theatre: a small, intimate, multi-levelled room. So intimate in fact, that there were audience seats on the same level as the performance space, which the two performers used for interacting with the crowd.
The performance as a whole was dark, eerie and informative, split into sections and accompanied by music. A single screen supported the actors visually, playing footage of old films every now and then to give background and further expression to each piece. The performance used news headlines addressing cross-dressing and transgender individuals, which hit hard. The headlines, taken from real newspapers and magazines, addressed suicides, murders and other tragedies involving gender inequality. They also included positive headlines, including the passing of laws supporting cross-dressing.
Most of the show included both Ana and Jessi, while some parts were performed as solo pieces. Jessi wore long pants and a formal shirt in one scene, and then emerged shortly after in a dress. The show certainly put thoughts in the minds of those in the room. It destroyed any walls that existed to formalise and separate society’s views of how men and women should act and dress.
One of the standout moments of the show was the pair’s performance of ‘Freakum Dress’ by Beyoncé, in which they oozed self-confidence and sassiness strutting the stage, each in a pair of heels and a dress.
A second highlight of the show was the final dance. A battle between the two, they circled each other and smothered lipstick on themselves – a kind of tension between each gender, where they struggled to belong in a society based on structure, rules and expectations.
‘Crossfade’ was a stirring, sensual dance piece that took the audience on a journey of expression, and commanded the destruction of gender inequality. Taking only nine days to put together an hour-long piece with such deep emotion and character depth was an inspiring effort.Four out of five dancing shoes.
