A conversation with NSW connected dance and theatre makers around the making of physically driven work: Narelle Benjamin; Danielle Micich (Force Majeure); Jo Lancaster & Simon Yates (acrobat).

Speaking outside of the context of a post-show talk, the artists consider common concerns and experiences and talk about the relationship of the work in this year’s festival to their other works and ongoing practice. The conversation will explore what the context of making work in NSW and elsewhere brings to the art that's created, and the ideas that underpin the bodies at play.

Registration required.

Speakers

Danielle Micich (You Animal, You) joined Force Majeure as Artistic Director in 2015 and presented her first work Off The Record with the company in 2016. She is a choreographer, director and performer. In 2014 Danielle was Assistant Director on Sydney Theatre Company’s Perplex and choreographed Barking Gecko Theatre Company’s 1507. Danielle was also the Artistic Director of STEPS Youth Dance Company for four years and in 2011 performed in Night Train Productions’ Wish with Humphrey Bower, winning a West Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Female Performer, and Blue Room Theatre award for Best Individual Performance and Members Choice.

Jo and Simon (It's Not For Everyone) are the founders of acrobat, their main occupation for almost 25 years. At 51 and 45 respectively, Jo and Simon maintain remarkable physical capacity, a testimony to the spartan lifestyle they have maintained and endorse. They continue to be inspired by one another’s kooks and peculiarities, agreeing on everything and remaining distinctly out-of-step with their contemporaries.

Narelle Benjamin (Cella) has danced with many Australian and international choreographers including Garry Stewart’s Australian Dance Theatre, Gideon Obarzanek’s Chunky Move, Bangarra Dance Theatre and One Extra Dance Theatre among others. The development of her choreographic career has included two works for the One Extra Company, Gossamer (Sydney Dance Company), The Dark Room (Australian Ballet), Figment (Sydney Festival 2008), Lulie and Pixel (Theatre of Image), Forseen (a double bill alongside Frances Rings, performed at Bangarra Dance Theatre and Riverside Theatres Parramatta). Narelle’s last full length work, Hiding In Plain Sight, at Performance Space, Carriage Works 2014, with performers Kristina Chan and Sara Black was awarded outstanding Achievement in choreography at the 2015 Australian Dance Awards.

Julie-Anne Long is an artist-scholar and Lecturer in Dance and Performance at Macquarie University. She works in a variety of dance contexts as performer, choreographer, director, producer, mentor, dramaturg, and curator. Julie-Anne has a significant solo practice, as well as a more communal, collaborative way of working with other like-minded artists, within the diversity of Australian contemporary performance.

Co-presented with Critical Path.Critical Path is Australia’s leading centre for choreographic research and development – supporting artists to push the boundaries of contemporary practice and opening up a space for debate and critical appreciation of dance.