Political Mother

Overview

Young Israeli-born, London-based choreographer/composer Hofesh Shechter has been hailed as a revolutionary "set to do for dance what the YBAs did for art". Critics were reaching for all manner of superlatives after the premiere of Political Mother, his first full-length contemporary dance piece, describing it as "a work of galvanising, challenging power", "like a roar of defiance", "a fine, excoriating work" and "very, very exciting". Dance that looks almost like you could do it yourself, Shechter’s choreography is a collision of movement styles that draws on club dancing, militant street revolutions and contemporary dance, all set to a self-composed cinematic score played live on stage.

The Opera House has some very canny programmers. I suspect they foresaw Gillard’s crushing of Rudd last week and so, cashing in on the mood of the occasion, scheduled Political Mother in the week to follow (by this time, a taste of blood still lingers, but we've tired of watching Julia and Tony flirt and Kevin shed). Fortuitous timing for a revolutionary dance piece.

An audience Q and A will follow the 1.30pm show on Sunday, July 4.