Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
January 30, 2018

In the 1980s, Michael Clark had a reputation as the enfant terrible of British dance. Although he trained at the Royal Ballet School, he formed his own company at 22 and raised a finger to the establishment with performances that included, among other provocations, punk music, bare-bottomed dancers and cameo appearances by the likes of Australian performance artist Leigh Bowery.

Clark is now 55 and his latest work to a simple rock ‘n’ roll…song. has an altogether different vibe: cool elegance with a clear – and acknowledged – nod to Merce Cunningham.

The work takes the form of a triptych, which runs a tight 85 minutes including interval. It premiered at the Barbican Centre in 2016 and has since toured. It is now being presented by the Sydney Opera House prior to a season at the Perth Festival.

Sophie Cottrell, Harry Alexander, Rowan Parker, Oxana Panchenko, Kieran Page, Benjamin Warbis and Daniel Corthorn. Photograph © Prudence Upton

Act I, which is subtitled Satie Studs/Ogives Composite, is choreographed to piano music by Erik Satie, including four studies known as the Ogives, which have an...