Feb 19

Feb 19 Perth Festival: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s "Manifest" is a spectacular statement about protest

Theatre & Arts, Art Nation, Perth Festival

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is one of the world’s most sought-after choreographers. He is the current artistic director of Eastman and the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, and was formerly the artistic director of the Royal Ballet of Flanders (2015–2022). He has worked with an impressive list of the world’s best ballet and dance companies, not to mention Beyoncé and Madonna.

STRUT Dance and Perth Festival have delivered a huge coup in bringing Cherkaoui to Australia for his choreographic debut in the country along with assistant choreographers Tara Jade Samaya and Nick Coutsier (who was also a part of Perth Moves in 2024).

We were lucky enough to attend the opening performance of Manifest, which is an incredibly powerful work of dance inspired by Ghandi’s non-violent resistance against injustice and discrimination. Cherkaoui handpicked a cast of 12 dancers from over 100 who auditioned. He has chosen very well. The immensely talented group eat up the stage with skilful and charismatic performances.

They are ably supported by a silent choir of 50 volunteers who add to the power of the piece which comes to life in plein air in Forrest Place before the imposing General Post Office building in Boorloo (you can be one of the volunteers too!).

But it is not just the dance which is exceptional. Alexandre Dai Castaing has composed a magical score in which the duelling pianos of Kyoko Ichihashi and Emily Green-Armytage soar, and the vocals of Ian Wilkes bring shivers to your spine.

As Wilkes put down the microphone after delivering a thought provoking spoken word while the dancers circled the stage behind him the audience rose as one to applaud. There is a reason Cherkaoui is so celebrated and it shows as he has created something special for the Perth Festival.

Manifest is a brilliant statement about power, resistance, the force of protest and how revolutions can go astray. It is a worthy addition to the list of Perth Festival’s renowned free public performances and a continuation of the excellent annual Perth Moves program by STRUT Dance.

You will not want to miss what promises to be one of Perth Festival’s highlights. Manifest is performed free at Forrest Chase from 8.00pm on 18, 19 and 20 February.