The Dark Side of the Crown - Review

Reviewed by Lydia Cheng

There is much to be said about belly-dancing.  With the many styles, interpretations and re-imagined versions of the tradition, often times, it is the musical selection and lighting that can have the greatest effect on the audience's mood and enjoyment of the show.

With The Dark Side of the Crown, the audience is at times amazed, amused and confused.  The show began with several side acts.  Seven different Australian and New Zealand troupes displayed their belly dancing abilities. Of the seven, Awakening the Goddess and Qanundrum were among my favorites: they showcased high technical skills.  Meanwhile, Diamonds and Shaabi Evolution involve more comedy and urban expression, presenting an amusing show.

To be honest, there are moments where someone might lose the plot, but the general gist is this: in a matriarchal kingdom, a queen must choose one of her three daughters to rule.  However, on the night of the celebration, tragedy strikes as the queen is murdered and the kingdom is lost as to how to proceed.  With some magic, a ghost, and a few love interests, perhaps the truth of the matter will be revealed.

In fact, at times the audience might feel the need for a guidebook: there are moments when the the performance feels like a talent show, focusing only on the skill of one dancer, and not on the story, such as the opening of the show.  At other times, such as in the act The Flirts, the dancers play up their individual persona, making the story stand out more.  After all, a coquettish belly dancer seducing a B-Boy on stage is not an every day occurrence.

Strobe lighting and thick smoke can also obscure the audience's understanding of certain scenes.  At one point, it seems like the adviser and the priestess are in cahoots to  take away the crown from the daughters.  In another scene, it seems like the youngest daughter schemed to become queen, while the oldest daughter is simply biding her time to rule.

However, there is a great scene, where even audience members are included.  In the scene Discipline is Needed, the new guards of the palace amuse themselves with the musicians, only to be caught by the acting queen.  With that, the scene is set up: they drag a new guard out of the audience, up onto the stage and begin another dance that is a mix of traditional belly-dancing and modern music.

Within the cast, there are multiple talented performers, each with their own style.  Several of the troupe members were winners of the Bellydance Evolution competition.  B-Boy Ju and Daneilo Mendes offered a great contrast as b-boy dancers.  Jilliana, the artistic director and creator of Bellydance Evolution, took the stage to show how truly intensive belly-dancing can be.

All in all, The Dark Side of the Crown is a wonderful visual display. The interplay of  music and lighting tends to help showcase the cast, while the costume changes would make any drama department envious.  As the troupe continues their Australian experience, hopefully other people will begin to discard their preconceived notions of bellydance and enjoy the show.