It was seventh heaven to listen to the West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster, Laurence Jackson, as he coaxed sublimity from his violin, playing Johann Sebastian Bach’s Chaconne. This was to accompany Raewyn Hill and Michael Whaites performing in their short prelude to Gloria aptly titled Curtain-Raiser: A Trio. Who wouldn’t want to take the opportunity to engage one of WASO’s prime musicians, on this first occasion that New Zealander Douglas Wright’s Gloria would be performed with a live musical accompaniment and singers?

Gloria by Douglas Wright (2022) Co3 Contemporary Dance. Photo © Shotweiler Photography

Hill, Artistic Director of Co3 and Whaites, Lecturer in Contemporary Dance at WAAPA, performed graciously together, distributing heavy rocks to make a  path – the backgrounded yellow light, the sparse stage and their actions giving the impression of pioneer settlers perhaps handing over the reigns. As always, it’s such a treat to see veteran dancers on stage and it would be an even better treat for this not to be a rarity.

And then came Wright’s Gloria, considered, because of its power and zest at the time of its premiere in 1990, to be groundbreaking and influential...