New Zealand International Arts Festival. Sutra, St James Theatre, March 3rd, and Echoa, Soundings Theatre, March 7, reviewed by Deirdre Tarrant.

A great idea having all the dance programmes in one place with the Festival dance works all bound together – a handy reference book and a real cost saving getting five shows for the price of one!
First up and arriving onstage with a maximum amount of publicity and hype was the Shaolin Monks and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui with Sutra. Design by Antony Gorley with 21 wooden boxes that shape and inform the space, a boat, a wall, a city, a table, a tiger, a staircase....was stunning.
These same boxes also tell of emotion, of the burden of life and the chaos and order that each have their place in the pathway of “everyman”. There were plenty of Chinese martial art sequences and the cut and thrust of these movements punctuated the hour long work, sometimes almost demonic in their frenzy and at other moments full of silent strength and enduring power.
Sutra tells of the journey of one man,(Ali Ben Lotfi Thabet)inspired by the skill, spirituality and strength of the Buddhist Shaolin monks to join them and be a part of their centuries old tradition and Shaolin Kung Fu practice.
Although interesting and leaving strong images imprinted on the retina, Sutra somehow failed to connect on any emotional level for me and I came away pleased to have shared an hour but still feeling on the outside.
The professionalism and vibrant commitment of the French Echoa cast drew plenty of laughs from the younger audiences but also delivered a percussion performance it was impossible not to get involved in.
A gentle start and many lighting cues ultimately got the four musicians out front and dancing – choreographically the vocabulary was rather dated but the rhythms were brilliantly delivered. A wonderful conversation between the four with sound and boxes was a highlight - words simply not necessary - was waiting for the big finale that never came as we were gently returned to the beginning phrases and a quiet ending.
A special hour spent fulfilling the aim of Echoa to “value adventurous wanderings in unknown lands” The dance offerings in this Festival have been brave and have taken us as audiences on voyages to the unexpected. More to look forward to!