Australia Dancing - Alchemy (1996

Alchemy (1996 - )

McFarlane, Jim: Nicole Rhodes and Nigel Burley in Lead from Stephen Page's 'Alchemy', the Australian Ballet, 1996

Choreographed by Stephen Page for the Australian Ballet, Alchemy premiered in Melbourne at the State Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre, on 13 September 1996. A commissioned work, it was part of Maina Gielgud's all Australian triple bill. The other works on that program were Meryl Tankard's The Deep End and Stanton Welch's Red Earth.

In four parts - 'Mercury', 'Salt', 'Lead' and 'Gold' - Alchemy was, in Stephen Page's words, 'a metaphor for mankind's propensity to quest for gold, versus our need to respect the spiritual essence of nature'. In his choreographer's notes, Page also explained the essence of each part:

Mercury: mother earth calls/a life force awakens/running hunger/she nurtures its journey

Salt: tears of salt/expose the soul/taste the earth/a sacred medicine

Lead: a storm brewing/industrial initiation/the harbinger of destruction/scars the earth

Gold: a morning star/abundant riches/earth's jewels/the power to corrupt

Alchemy was danced to music by David Page, created as a commissioned score. The score included vocals by David Page, Leah Purcell, Kirk Page, Connie Mitchell and Ningali with acoustic guitar by Steve Francis. Indigenous language groups represented in the vocals were Umpila, Yugambeh and Walmadjarri. Set design was by Fiona Foley, costume design by Jennifer Irwin and lighting design by Jo Mercurio. The opening night cast included principal artists Lisa Bolte, Miranda Coney, Steven Heathcote, Adam Marchant and David McAllister.

Research Materials

Oral history | Picture | All

Other resources

Find more about Alchemy in:

Internet - Google
Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
Pictures - Picture Australia