Amrita Hepi’s “Rinse” explores creation and cultural lineage
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In Sydney, Australia, dancer and choreographer Amrita Hepi performed “Rinse” at the Sydney Opera House, building on a debut at Performance Space in 2022.
Hepi, co-creator of the work, began with an Auslan interpretation of the Acknowledgement of Country, recognising the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land. The hour-long performance centered around a monologue repeating the phrase “In the beginning,” exploring themes of creation, heritage, and the nature of beginnings themselves.
Hepi wove together diverse references in both her script and choreography. She referenced Māori creation stories involving the sky father Ranginui and earth mother Papatūānuku, alongside Biblical allusions and contemporary examples like preheating an oven. The choreography blended First Nations traditions with postmodern dance, pop culture, and yoga, including recreations of movements from Māori haka and references to Aboriginal ceremony.
The performance also acknowledged Western influences on Hepi’s work, from classical ballet, specifically a controversial 1954 production, to the dance styles of Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, Yvonne Rainer, and Pina Bausch. Hepi incorporated elements of popular culture too, referencing Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and films like Flashdance. The artist noted the show has toured internationally for four years, suggesting a potential conclusion to this particular exploration of beginnings, while expressing hope for future work.
