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REVIEW: The Next 14 Seconds - Phuluxus2 Dance Collective, Cluster Arts, QPAC

A Dance Theatre Exploration of Human Evolution

In this infinite cosmos, our world is a small but beautiful fragment. We humans are said to represent a mere 14 seconds of its condensed cosmic existence. We humans have expanded and reinvented ourselves at a startling rate—exploring the mystical, building the impossible, and taking the greatest leaps of faith to arrive at this point.


Phluxus2 Dance Collective’s 'The Next 14 Seconds' was a mesmerising, thought-provoking collision of dance, theatre, sound, and visual artistry that delved into the essence of human existence. Performed at QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre, this avant-garde piece challenged audiences to reflect on our rapid evolution and what we’re sacrificing along the way. The choreography, crafted by the award-winning Nerida Matthaei, transitioned between fluid, organic motion and jagged, erratic sequences, to reflect the beauty and chaos of human development.



The Physical Language of Storytelling

The five dancers—Jade Brider, Hsin-Ju Ely, Georgia Peirce, Asher Bowen Saunders, and Jacob Watton—were a force of nature on stage. Their physicality and athleticism were both fluid and primal, embodying the evolution of humankind through an intricate blend of contemporary and experimental movement. The choreography was complex and demanding, often requiring them to climb over each other like a human jungle gym, manipulate each other’s limbs like ragdolls, or puppet one another in animalistic sequences. One particularly compelling moment saw the dancers engage in seizure-like convulsions—an intense, almost violent representation of struggle and transformation. The sheer endurance required to sustain these levels of movement for a continuous 60 minutes, without a single water break, was nothing short of astounding.



A Breath, A Beginning

Sound was crucial in establishing the atmosphere right from the start of the performance. The dancers' deliberate audible gasps, layered with subtle pulsing sounds, and their distinctly individual movements, created a sense of isolation. During the first ten minutes, there was no accompanying music, so the dancers relied solely on each other's rhythm and energy to keep time. This raw, unfiltered beginning established an intimate connection between each performer and the audience, pulling us into their world of movement and expression.


A Multisensory Experience

The soundscape evolved as the performance unfolded—jingling coins, crashing waves, humming voices, and haunting laughter. At one point, the female dancers lifted and carried Watton across the stage as he laughed maniacally, a surreal and striking moment that felt both absurd and profound. Lighting design by Keith Clark enhanced the show’s sci-fi aesthetic. Sharp, futuristic beams of light guided the audience’s gaze, directing focus within otherwise chaotic scenes.


Costume design by Lisa Fa’alafi added yet another dimension to the storytelling. The dancers began in thick, layered garments, peeling away each piece as the performance progressed. This slow removal revealed a final costume: bodysuits covered in scribbled lines and shapes, as if they had been drawn into existence. As they introduced matching fabrics and secured them to hooks for elevation into the space, the stage became an evolving canvas. This interplay of materials, along with the dancers' lifts and contortions, reinforced the concept of interconnectedness-how we shape and are shaped by the world around us.


Unexpected, Unpredictable, Unforgettable

What made 'The Next 14 Seconds' so exhilarating was its unpredictability. Just when you thought you understood the direction, the performance shifted. One moment it will be deeply contemplative, the next it is chaotic and nonsensical. There was an undeniable humour woven throughout—the exaggerated facial expressions and mimed sequences frequently elicited giggles from the audience.


As the performers drew the audience into their world, they extended the experience beyond the stage. They made eye contact, guided our movements, and even pulled some audience members onto the stage. The final affirmations—starting with “I,” then “You,” then “We”—fostered an intense sense of unity, culminating in the entire theatre joining hands like we were at a kumbaya campfire. This surprising ending transformed the audience from passive observers into active participants in the performance’s message.


'The Next 14 Seconds' is not a conventional dance performance—it is a visceral, immersive experience that challenges perceptions of movement, theatre, and human existence itself. While the abstract storytelling may leave some feeling lost, the talent displayed on stage and the sensory impact are undeniably compelling. This is dance theatre at its boldest—an exploration of our identity, our past, and our potential future.

Photography by Jade Ellis




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