Two ballet dancers perform an acrobatic pose on stage with a dark background.

Standing on a Rising Wave


Naarm, Melbourne VIC

2024

Commission by The Australian Ballet: Bodytorque season

Standing on a Rising Wave considers the foundations of our actions. It celebrates the seemingly fruitless and meandering pathways that ultimately enrich us. Standing on a Rising Wave also foregrounds the importance of uplifting one another, as we are able to create something collectively that could never be possible alone.


Choreography Yuiko Masukawa

Music Alisdair Macindoe

Dancers The Australian Ballet

Amy Ronnfeldt, Belle Urwin, Yaru Xu, Drew Hedditch, Harrison Bradley and Alain Juelg

Photography Brodie James

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  • image of dancers in colourful costumes holding hands

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  • Image of two dancers together in colourful costumes

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  • Two ballet dancers perform on stage with a dark background, one dancer in a yellow top and blue bottoms, the other in a light yellow leotard, both in extended dance poses.

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  • Three ballet dancers perform on stage with a dark background, wearing colorful costumes, one lifting another in an elegant pose.

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  • A female performer in mid-air on a dark stage, wearing a red top and gray leggings, with two people in the background.

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Review Excerpt: Dance Australia

Dance Australia Review

Hamish McIntosh Review

Yuiko Masukawa’s work Standing on a Rising Wave is pure classicism. Accompanied by a terrific score by Alisdair Macindoe, the choreography is all dynamism and attack. Waves of movement create explosions of momentum. Crisp phrases resolve into elongated poses. The work reminds me of Balanchine and Forsythe – very technical and showy but with a gentler edge.