WRITING

 

"Benjamin Hancock crowns himself in the ironically titled Princess. With kinked thumbs opposed to little fingers, he places a figurative crown on his head. He’s a human maypole, streamers attached; a spinning top; and he holds his centre with brash assurance. Self-belief seems to hold him upright rather than mere skill. His balance is so canny, he introduces a wobble — a wild, off-centre twirl — to show off his ability to re-find his centre. His robotic economy of movement gives way to something dervish-like.
Intriguingly, Hancock isn’t entertaining the masses; it’s absolutely apparent that he’s leading them, like some extraterrestrial Evita.
Just as Christianity adopted and adapted the rituals and festivals of the pagan world, Hancock’s bearded princess steals back the Promethean fire."

Bearded princess wears the crown
Chris Boyd THE AUSTRALIAN June 23, 2014

 

"Hancock choreographed and performs in Princess, a solo that casts him as a kind of warrior royal set atop a round pedestal. The sense of captivity - Hancock never ventures outside of his cage - is counteracted by a whirlwind of rainbow ribbons and flying golden plaits that stream around his limbs. He seems simultaneously a contained curiosity on display and a creature of supernatural ferocity as his body moves with increasing speed."

Chunky's next moves dance along cutting edge
Jordan Beth Vincent SMH June 22, 2014

 

"Benjamin Hancock's work Princess, takes a very different use of the same space and contains and contracts it rather that allowing himself to range through it. He keeps the viewer at a distance. Revealed on a round podium, Hancock commences a ritualistic, slow-paced series of movements that feature the angular folding of limbs. There is a sense that he is testing the limits of his small sphere. The movement pace quickens and encompasses greater fluidity. Flailing arms and high circular kicks end in swirling collapses to the ground. Hancock has a physicality that is enjoyable to watch. He combines isolations of the arms, neck and head with large, sweeping movements of the legs. There is a sense of everything being held under tight control, even in the moments of abandoned dancing."

Chuny Move: It Cannot Be Stopped

Susan Bendall Dance Australia 23 June, 2014

 

"Benjamin Hancock’s Princess opens the night. A solo in the round, it begins with an assaulting cacophony of instrumental sound (by Alisdair Macindoe). A black curtain rises to reveal Hancock on a raised circular stage. In a black dress streaming with thick, colourful ribbons, blond braids on head, Hancock stands still and sculptural, staring ahead. It’s a tightly improvised solo that reveals a clean movement style of rotating shoulders and hips, pauses and occasional flurries. Influenced by internal states and body rhythms, the movement builds and resides with focus."

Dance review: It Cannot Be Stopped, Chunky Move

Stephanie Glickman Herald Sun June 23, 2014

 

"Benjamin Hancock showcases an eye-catching study of colour and form in Princess. The costume is delightful, combining a witchy sort of black dress with an explosion of coloured ribbons. Indeed, the whole piece has its own peculiar charm. There's a mesmeric, deep-felt intensity to the way Hancock develops toward his catharsis, classical and orientalist forms cracking beneath a rainbow explosion which leaves the dancer reeling."

It Cannot Be Stopped

Time Out Melbourne June 2014

 

"Hancock is dressed as a deity with long blonde plaits and a black dress adorned with long colourful ribbons that fly behind him as he moves about the small circular stage under a powerful spotlight mastered by lighting designer Bosco Shaw.

He begins slowly, exploring poses that evoke a sense of ‘power over the people’, with outstretched arms and long extensions of his legs, while avoiding eye contact with the audience at all times. Hancock builds momentum, working up to a frenzy of twists and turns before adopting a steady sense of command again. He creates a well-considered narrative flow with his precise technical skills."

It Cannot Be Stopped (Chunky Move Studios, Melbourne)

Melinda Oliver Daily Review June 26, 2014

 

"Benjamin Hancock’s Princess is a fascinating sole performance where the embodiment of regency meets the dancer’s intensely felt ongoing exploration of his own history of dance training and his authority over his body. Legacies are enacted on and through the body here; Princess speaks of dynasties, of power and prestige. The result is a hypnotic and tightly held performance of singular beauty and eloquence, containing awareness of how deeply a sense of both conferred and inherited kingship becomes incorporated. Princess evokes ancient traditions where political leaders were also spiritual leaders, at the same time speaking to how we create ourselves in our culture, becoming our own princesses in our own ways. A wonderfully festive yet dignified costume, intriguing electronic music and a restrained set here make for a stunning work of sombre joy."

It Cannot Be Stopped
Liza Dezfouli Arts HubJune 24, 2014