Dance / Public dance performance. At Mirramu Creative Arts Centre, Bungendore, March 26. Reviewed by SAMARA PURNELL.

AFTER a drenching the previous day, “Mirramu”, the home and hosting space of Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, was the scene for a lovely afternoon of dance in which there were moments of such complete peace and absolute silence that each insect could be heard.

The program started with a couple of performances inspired by water, performed by Ku Ming-shen and Canberra group Somebody’s Aunt. Lake George is right on the doorstep of Mirramu, so it made a dramatic backdrop.

A light-hearted piece, “Picnic,” was performed to a soundtrack of old-time love songs from Taiwanese dance troupe, Ku & Dancers followed. Making use of a multitude of props, the dancers interacted with and amused the audience, offering Tim-Tams, fruit and chips.

Joshua Walsh and Larina Bagic from new Canberra dance school The Training Ground engaged the audience with a pas de deux accompanied by beautiful Max Richter music, then  Liz Lea  tapped into her passion for birds as she foraged to make a nest in “Twilight”.

Yu Ming-chu and Lai Szu-ying danced amongst the smaller, green trees before Chen Fu-rong performed a piece that included dropping cards with philosophical quotes for the audience to take and read aloud.

As he disappeared into the folds of his cape, Dalman began  to recite “Blue Honey”. Macrame and rope hung from the trees in the small space she occupied and as she slowly emerged, wide-eyed, the fantastical tale captivated the listeners.

In the next installation Vivienne Rogis appeared, furled around a feminine statue, then new mum Alison Plevey, of Australian Dance Party, danced with baby Cora.

During a break, several short films were screened, then Debora di Centa performed a playful dance, “Volare”.

“Trio” saw Ku and Dancers bouncing ed off each other  with acrobatic, entwined group work. Then, from amongst a cluster of softly coloured thin trees, Dalman and Vivienne Rogis became visible and performed a tender duet in “Spiral”.

Peng Hsiao-yin  drew on traditional birthing practices of creating connection to land before an uplifting, tender pas de deux by Dancecology’s Chen Yi-ching and Chen Fu-rong was performed in a deep empty dam in front of the lake.

An improvised number by Canberra’s GOLD dancers suggested that everyone should just be enjoying the benefits and expression of dance for the entirety of their lives.

Rachael Hilon and Melissa Lee followed with a  dance that used slow, flowing synchronised movement, before the program  concluded with “Ensemble”, which drew on elements of tai chi but blending into a tango-esque style of music.

Each short performance melted into the next in a beautiful flow, with gentle direction from the performers as to where to move to or look for the next.

Recurring motifs of blue and white feathers were strewn throughout the performances and the  soft colour palette of costumes mimicked and complemented the colours of the property and of autumn.

As Dalman said when thanking visitors: “Dance is amazing. Art is amazing. It brings us together and brings peace.”