mixed doubles
2004

Leigh Warren and Dancers' production of Mixed Doubles has audiences wondering, is it choreography or footwork, art or sport? Where does sport end and art begin?

Artistic Director Leigh Warren's fascination with the rules and protocols, symbols, scoring system, patterns of movement and the language of tennis provide the inspiration for this work.

The rules and protocols of tennis are intricate and steeped in tradition that can be traced back to 12th Century France. In a sometimes hilarious look at the game of tennis, Leigh Warren & Dancers teams up with David Hirschfelder (composer of Shine and Elizabeth soundtracks) and string quartet Tankstream.

Leigh says "As a choreographer and director I'm always looking at human movement in artistic terms. An athlete in full flight can be just as artistic and emotive as a dancer.

Aesthetically the players differ. Take for instance Hewitt, he has tenacity, raw power and endurance, whilst Agassi moves with pure speed and athleticism. Both in technique and style the players differ yet their physical prowess is compelling.

Contemporary dance technique and those of the modern athlete have parallels....without technical mastery and precision, efficiency of movement, balance and fluidity is not possible."

With a tennis court, a string quartet and an ensemble of dancers, let the game begin!"