I attended the Rising Festival last week, venturing out into the cold to Festival Hall to see A Voyage Into Infinity. I went in expecting a strong dance work, particularly given its promotion and the framing of the artists’ journey from New York. Naturally, I was excited by the prospect.

However, I found there was very little sustained choreography. Instead, the work felt more like a series of staged moments—performers drifting through scenes, constructing ideas only to dismantle them again. While visually clever in parts, it didn’t quite land for me as a dance work in the context of the Australian Dance Biennale, which is a significant national platform for contemporary dance. At times it felt closer to a moving installation than a choreographic performance, which left me disappointed.

The following evening at the Playhouse, I experienced one of the most extraordinary works I’ve seen in a long time by Melanie Lane. I was completely blown away. The piece created a seamless audiovisual world where movement, sound, set, lighting, and costume were in complete dialogue. Everything felt meticulously woven together, producing a powerful visual soundscape that resonated throughout the performance.

It was a reminder of the extraordinary calibre of contemporary work being made here in Australia. Truly world-class—there’s no need to look elsewhere.

Congratulations to Rising Festival for showcasing such ambition and talent. Keep it at home.