Image CREDIT Amber Haines

Lighting the Dark Shines a New Light on Contemporary Dance

Directed by Chris Dyke, this groundbreaking performance celebrates heroes, connection, and inclusivity with a powerful score by Anna Whitaker and Felix Sampson.

This March, Lighting the Dark, a captivating and boundary-pushing contemporary dance performance, will take audiences on an emotional journey across Geelong, Ballarat, and Melbourne. Created by the innovative director Chris Dyke, the show presents an exploration of heroism that merges the fantastical and the deeply personal. With a striking score composed by Anna Whitaker and Felix Sampson, Lighting the Dark promises to break new ground in Australian dance, with its bold themes, powerful choreography, and evocative music.

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The work is both a tribute to and a reimagining of the heroes that have shaped our world: the larger-than-life figures who fight injustice and create art in the shadows. Dyke’s vision for the piece was inspired by his own heroes, including the iconic Batman, Superman, David Bowie, Queen, and Banksy. “These heroes reflect my own power back to me,” Dyke explains. “I hope everyone who sees the show will feel empowered by it, too.”

Dyke, who lives with Down syndrome, has drawn on his personal experiences and unique perspective to bring a fresh voice to contemporary dance. This is the first time in Australia—possibly the world—that a dance work has been directed by an artist with Down syndrome. For Dyke, Lighting the Dark is a celebration of inclusivity and creativity, offering a deeply human experience for both the performers and the audience. As he notes, “I want people to leave the show feeling a sense of happiness, love, and connection with one another.”

The dance itself is a fusion of different styles and conventions. According to Felix Sampson, a senior ensemble artist with Dancenorth and a key collaborator on the project, the work feels like “Chris’ creativity and his mind manifested into physical form. It’s a big melting pot of a show that’s got a bit of everything.” Sampson has also contributed to the piece in a unique way: he co-wrote the lyrics for the song ‘Hero’s Journey’, which accompanies Dyke’s powerful final solo. Sampson, alongside Anna Whitaker, also co-wrote ‘Rock Star’, another key piece for the performance.

Describing the emotional experience of creating ‘Hero’s Journey’, Sampson shares, “It was quite an emotional process. I’ve known Chris for eight years, and it felt like the pinnacle of our emotional connection. I would close my eyes and imagine what he would be doing, then try to write lyrics that would support that.” ‘Hero’s Journey’ encapsulates the essence of Dyke’s journey, celebrating both his personal growth and the connections formed throughout the creative process.

The song ‘Rock Star’ underscores another pivotal moment in the show. Both songs have been performed by Sampson, whose own emotional connection to the work shines through in every note. “The songs celebrate everything about Chris and how much he’s brought to all of our lives,” Sampson says. “They kind of wrote themselves. I just channelled Chris and tried to be as honest as possible.”

 

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The emotional core of Lighting the Dark is deeply tied to the relationships between the dancers and Dyke. Sampson emphasises the uniqueness of Dyke’s choreographic approach: “The way Chris interacts with all of the dancers is really special. He sees our different nuances and personalities, and he really brings them out and celebrates them.” This individual attention fosters a rare bond between the performers, making the work not only a collective artistic endeavour but a shared emotional experience.

The choreography is complemented by a score that pulses with life and amplifies the narrative’s emotional intensity. Anna Whitaker, the composer, worked closely with Dyke to create a musical landscape that mirrors the high stakes and epic drama of superhero stories. “At its heart, Lighting the Dark is about heroes—both the larger-than-life kind and the people we admire in our own lives,” Whitaker explains. Her score is cinematic and grand, blending orchestral elements with contemporary sounds to match the evolving tones of the work.

When Whitaker first came aboard, Chris Dyke had already cultivated a clear vision for the soundscape he wanted. “Chris put together an awesome playlist of different scores and music to give us a sense of how he imagined the music sounding for all the different scenes,” she recalls. This foundation allowed her to expand upon Dyke’s ideas and create a soundscape that is both dramatic and nuanced.

The influence of superhero films, with their iconic soundtracks, is evident in the score’s dramatic sweep. Whitaker was careful to craft a sound that matched the intensity of the visuals and choreography. “If you think about superhero films, the music is often orchestral—very dramatic, very epic, very full,” Whitaker observes. “That kind of orchestration is important in supporting the atmosphere and the intense emotions in the work.”

But it wasn’t just Dyke’s clear direction that guided her process. It was the fluid nature of collaboration. “Even though Chris’ vision was incredibly clear, he was open to me bringing my own touch and voice—a true collaborator,” Whitaker reflects. The result is a score that serves not only to underscore the emotional journey of the performers but also to amplify the collective experience of the audience.

Lighting the Dark has already been described as a deeply moving and authentic experience that embraces both chaos and connection. The work is set to challenge the conventions of contemporary dance by inviting its audience to engage in a way that is “very rare” for the medium, says Dancenorth’s Kyle Page, who has worked closely with Dyke on the production.

“This show is about connection, and it’s about the power of love and heroism,” Sampson concludes. “I think audiences will leave feeling like they’ve been a part of something very special.”

With its message of unity, the pulse of its electrifying score, and the power of Dyke’s unique artistic vision, Lighting the Dark promises to shine brightly on stages across Victoria and beyond.

Don’t miss this groundbreaking Australian-first performance, which will be presented in Geelong, Ballarat, and Melbourne this March.

March 14 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Wadawurrung Country (Ballarat), VIC
March 19-20 – Geelong Arts Centre, Djilang (Geelong), VIC
March 27 – Monash Performing Arts Centre, Naarm (Melbourne), VIC

For tickets, visit Dancenorth’s website.