A blend of poetry and movement inspired by feeling; passion and peril are two sides of the same coin in ‘Vol 1’, directed by D.K. Fashola.
An anxiety-ridden myriad of movement, ‘Volume 1’ features three dance pieces: ‘Power’, ‘Bump’ and ‘Thorns for a Crown.’ Directed by DK Fashola, their distinct narratives are aligned by the timeless tale of struggle between mind, body, and soul. In Power, a tribe is visited by the spirit of their ancestor who pushes them to embrace their own gifts instead of seeking divine retribution. ‘Bump’ uses negative space to show the conflict between innocence and disturbing desires. ‘Thorns for a Crown’ immortalises the creative block as we watch a tortured artist ruin his peace of mind for sweet release.
Each film displays a certain level of urgency amidst all the surrealist iconography and haltering movement. ‘Power’ uses its fantastic score and lighting to amplify the desperation in the tribe’s movements. The face-off between the tribe and their deity evokes feelings of animalistic frenzy- which is legitimised by the next film- ‘Bump’, which takes us back to the roots- using sparse furniture and animal masks to present an otherworldly atmosphere. The intricate poses in tight spaces shows us the urgency between each movement. ‘Thorns for a Crown’ comes at a point where the audience is begging for a release. The artist glides around his airy loft, posing the question: what happens when you can’t find the beauty in everyday things? He finally lets loose in a euphoric dance after sacrificing his sanity for genius; “let me die here,” are his final words.
United by themes like greed and rebirth, ‘Vol 1’ juxtaposes vulnerability with obsession. DK Fashola exalts the innocence and curiosity within us that exists alongside darkness and fear. Her stylistic choices as a filmmaker are only amplified by her versatile choreography. An ode to tortured artists everywhere, ‘Vol 1’ is a hedonistic hellscape personified.
Name of Production: Volume 1
Year of Production: 2021
Venue: Summerhall Online
Running Time: 10 Mins
Cast: Audrey Lobe / Cori D Lionne / Anita Salako / Bubsy Niche / Rush Campbell / Shinice Davidson / DKFash / Luke Wilson
Director: DKFash
Designer/Lighting Designer: Stacey O’Shea
Stylist: Michelle D’Costa
Choreographer: DKFash
Producers/Production Company: Initiative.dkf, supported by Albany, Tamasha Theatre, the Eclipse Award
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