DAIR 2020
DAIR artist in residence 2020
ALICE WEBER @ ALSTONEVILLE<br />
Alice Weber was scheduled to travel to Alstonville Dance Studio in Byron Bay, due to COVID-19 she completed her residency at home, and was mentored by Giselle Stanborough and collaborated with artists Monika Blaszczak, Vanessa Goodman, Ileana Cheladyn and Alexa Wilson in a series of recorded conversations.
“I was interested in finding a possible boundary of what might be considered ‘choreographic’, and testing (successfully or unsuccessfully) if this work qualifies. I was not concerned with ideas of what choreography ‘should’ look like, which was essential freedom in this line of enquiry.”
Alice recorded a podcast during her residency with Monica Blaszczak as part of ‘Ausdance In Conversation…’ which can be heard here>>>
Photo Credit: Image supplied by the artist, taken in her backyard, Alstonville Dance Studio DAIR Funded 2020. @alstonvilledancestudio
ANNALOUISE PAUL @ CAMPBELLTOWN ARTS CENTRE
Annalouise Paul completed her 1-week residency at Campbelltown Arts Centre. Annalouise received her first international commission from George Town Festival in 2020 for a new dance work at the Penang Peranakan Mansion.
She used the residency to experiment with new hybrid scores that can be employed by the local dance artists (Malaysia, Singapore) to generate embodied material from their own cultural and contemporary practices.
Annalouise says “inviting Anny Mokotow out for the day was fantastic …(I) developed a deeper understanding of the premise for the work, in discussion with Anny, the idea of how histories are carried in the body and come with us into the future as a metaphor for the Mansion.”
Annalouise was mentored in the studio by Dramaturg, Anny Mokotow and we thank her for her commitment to supporting dance works. Annalouise Paul is an integral part of the dance sector, her work surrounding diversity, her commitment to highlighting flamenco, and her perseverance for the inclusivity of the dance sector is unwavering and should be acknowledged and celebrated.
Photo Credit: Image taken by Ausdance NSW on a studio visit, Campbelltown Arts Centre DAIR Funded 2020. @campbelltownartscentre @creatensw
ELLA WATSON HEALTH @ ACPE<br />
Ella Watson-Heath completed her 1-week residency at the Australian College of Physical Education, in collaboration with Kieran Clancy-Lowe and mentored by S Sandra Eldridge. During her project ‘Save the Endorphin’ Ella aimed to develop a program for year 7 to year nine students, with an emphasis on mental health.
“Our residency became more about planning the structure for activities that focus on making young people feel comfortable and engaged. Mindfulness was an avenue we explored that we hadn’t considered when first developing the project, yet it has become one of the four main pillars of our program.”
Photo Credit: Image taken by Ausdance NSW on a studio visit, The Australian College of physical education DAIR Funded 2020. @theacpe
ELLE EVANGELISTA @ ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE
Elle Evangelista completed a 2-week residency at the Royal Academy of Dance Australia with mentor Matt Cornell. She used the time to create her new solo work 30THIRTY which was to premiere as part of The Flying Nun by at Brand X.
“30THIRTY is 30 x 1-minute solos performed in succession, followed by 1 x 30-minute solo. The stimulus for 30 x 1-minute solos will come from inviting a curated list of 30 people to write me a birthday wish on my birthday (in January).”
The Flying Nun was unable to go ahead due to COVID; we look forward to seeing her performance as soon as we can!
Photo Credit: Image taken by photo Luke Currie-Richardson, the Royal Academy of Dance Australia DAIR Funded 2020. @RoyalAcademyofDanceAustralia
“I was interested in finding a possible boundary of what might be considered ‘choreographic’, and testing (successfully or unsuccessfully) if this work qualifies. I was not concerned with ideas of what choreography ‘should’ look like, which was essential freedom in this line of enquiry.”
Alice recorded a podcast during her residency with Monica Blaszczak as part of ‘Ausdance In Conversation…’ which can be heard here>>>
Photo Credit: Image supplied by the artist, taken in her backyard, Alstonville Dance Studio DAIR Funded 2020. @alstonvilledancestudio
EMILY @ AMY FLANNERY NAISDA INAUGURAL FIRST NATIONS DAIR
Emily, with her collaborator and sister Amy, developed her work ‘Bulnuruwahna (Taking Flight)’ which will explore the Wiradjuri dreaming stories about the way the land was created by birds. They were able to develop the work on country at their families home. Emily was the innagural recipient of the DAIR + NAISDA First Nations Artists recidency.
Amy and I would use the time to research the stories that are the foundation and inspiration for my work Bulnuruwanha. This felt like the right course of action, given that we were able to live and research on country.
The research manifested in many ways, including creating and experimenting with props, visiting local sites like the lake and incorporating traditional women’s business such as weaving. I became aware that my practice primarily involves aspects that aren’t physical”.
It was so lovely to see two sisters work together and explore not only their work but how to adapt to an unprecedented situation such as COVID. Emily is a recipient of DityFeet’s Out of The Studio; we look forward to watching both her and her sisters creative practise unfold.
Photo Credit: Image supplied by the artist, ‘Bulnuruwanha Nest Wings’ NAISDA Dance College, DAIR Funded 2020. @naisda_dance_college @emflann @amyflannery_
EMMA HARRISON @ ACPE
Emma Harrison completed her 1-week residency at the Australian College of Physical Education, developing her work ‘Let them eat it,’ mentored by Kay Armstrong.
“Through exploration and integration of various art forms, I will begin to develop an interdisciplinary work inspired by the overtly decadent and publicly scrutinised queen of France, Marie Antoinette.
A victim of cultural misogyny and turned into the scapegoat/product of the French Revolution, she was wrongly pinned as a vision of indulgence and lewd behaviour far unbefitting of a queen.
This new dance work will unpack the French monarch and look to present her life as a series of transitions – temporal, spatial, physical and psychological. I will look at her life as she advanced through stages of development – these being independence, sexual initiation, marriage and motherhood and offer them as observations into myself as a female but also to women as a whole.
My objective is to use movement, media and text/sound to translate these evolutions, to explore the context of female identity and the intricacies of her life and scrutiny and viscerally present them.”
After viewing Emma’s well developed and researched work for DirtyFeet, we look forward to supporting Emma with her future development. Helping our young artists is an integral part of sustaining dance practise in NSW.
Photo Credit: Image supplied by the artist, The Australian College of physical education DAIR Funded in 2020. @theacpe @kay_arm_strong
GABRIELA GREEN @ CAMPBELLTOWN ARTS CENTRE
Gabriela Green completed her one-week residency at Campbelltown Arts Centre, with collaborator Ngioka Bunda-Heath and mentored by Emma Saunders. During this week she developed her work ‘Historia, Memoria and Connection’, her work explored her a choreographic practice through research and healing, making links between her sense of belonging here in Australia and my Chilean cultural heritage. Recently Gabriella shared her insights on dance as part of the International Dance Day, so we would like to share that again.
“I believe dance belongs to everyone. My practice focuses on the inclusive connection between ourselves, each other and the world. My family are refugees, and their trauma exists in my body memory. I use this body to express, create and communicate. My main goal is to keep their Lucha (fight) alive. Our bodies are going through a lot at the moment; it is shaping us literally. What my family taught me is that art brings us together to uplight a society from oppression. It is time to tune in, connect and use our creativity to fight for a better world, where we and everyone can express freely.”
Gabriela is a string member of our dance community, and we look forward to following and supporting her creative journey.
Photo Credit: LR Ngioka Bunda-Heath and Gabriela Green Olea, Campbelltown Arts Centre for DAIR 2020. @campbelltownartscentre @ga3rielagreenolea @GabrielaGreenOlea
MARGOT POLITIS @ ACPE<br />
Margot Politis completed her 1-week residency at the Australian College of Physical Education, with collaborator Liam O’Keefe and mentor Kay Armstrong.
“Temperance is a new work in development, exploring themes of moderation and restraint, as they relate to mental health, addiction recovery, and physical lethargy. Utilising depth of space, physical theatre, sound and light, Temperance investigated restraint as a critical virtue defined by Greek philosophy and examined through the female characters of Greek mythology.
I spent the first three days by myself, creating physical sequences every day, in an exploration of the different temperaments of women from Greek mythology. When Liam and Kay joined me on days 4 and 5, I discovered even more! Kay encouraged me to stop “thinking” so much – which is an easy trap to fall into when working alone!”
We are so excited to see where this work takes Margot.
Photo Credit: Photo: Margot Politis, DAIR Funded 2020 @theacpe mentored by @kay_arm_strong photo by Kay Armstrong
Margot Politis completed her 1-week residency at the Australian College of Physical Education, with collaborator Liam O’Keefe and mentor Kay Armstrong.
“Temperance is a new work in development, exploring themes of moderation and restraint, as they relate to mental health, addiction recovery, and physical lethargy. Utilising depth of space, physical theatre, sound and light, Temperance investigated restraint as a critical virtue defined by Greek philosophy and examined through the female characters of Greek mythology.
I spent the first three days by myself, creating physical sequences every day, in an exploration of the different temperaments of women from Greek mythology. When Liam and Kay joined me on days 4 and 5, I discovered even more! Kay encouraged me to stop “thinking” so much – which is an easy trap to fall into when working alone!”
We are so excited to see where this work takes Margot.
Photo Credit: Photo: Margot Politis, DAIR Funded 2020 @theacpe mentored by @kay_arm_strong photo by Kay Armstrong
Emily, with her collaborator and sister Amy, developed her work ‘Bulnuruwahna (Taking Flight)’ which will explore the Wiradjuri dreaming stories about the way the land was created by birds. They were able to develop the work on country at their families home. Emily was the innagural recipient of the DAIR + NAISDA First Nations Artists recidency.
Amy and I would use the time to research the stories that are the foundation and inspiration for my work Bulnuruwanha. This felt like the right course of action, given that we were able to live and research on country.
The research manifested in many ways, including creating and experimenting with props, visiting local sites like the lake and incorporating traditional women’s business such as weaving. I became aware that my practice primarily involves aspects that aren’t physical”.
It was so lovely to see two sisters work together and explore not only their work but how to adapt to an unprecedented situation such as COVID. Emily is a recipient of DityFeet’s Out of The Studio; we look forward to watching both her and her sisters creative practise unfold.
Photo Credit: Image supplied by the artist, ‘Bulnuruwanha Nest Wings’ NAISDA Dance College, DAIR Funded 2020. @naisda_dance_college @emflann @amyflannery_
NATASHA STURGIS @ ART IN MOTION<br />
Natasha Sturgis developed her work “The Land of Her” remotely at her home. Natasha was scheduled to travel to Art In Motion – Imagine Residency in rural NSW.
“The idea stems from questioning the traditional roles and behaviours which women and themselves embodying subconsciously. If there were no masculine/feminine binaries, would women behave differently, and what would our interactions between each other look like? So much of our own identity is determined by our outside influences, so without the limitation of what the male construct imposes on us, The Land of Her asks the question: “Who could we be?”
We hope to support Natasha in the future as she continues to develop her work.
Photo Credit: Image supplied by the artist, The Australian College of physical education DAIR Funded in 2020. @theacpe
PATRICIA WOOD @ ACPE<br />
Patricia Wood used her 1-week residency to research the work of Trisha Brown, with her mentor Lee Serle, at the Australian College of Physical Education.
“I used the time at ACPE to enact a series of scores and physical explorations to develop a physical language in response to working with the idea of transmission and Trisha Brown’s archival work. This residency has been about dancing, taking conceptual ideas that have been in response to the studio practice and bringing them back into the body.
Having Lee in the space with me has been an enjoyable experience for many reasons, he has such clear embodied experience of Trisha Brown’s movement vocabulary, which is so exciting to watch when he dances; and he shared a few personal memories of working with Trisha and being in relational to her invaluable practice.”
Patricia had to put future overseas travel for the development of her work due to COVID; we look forward to seeing her future research when she can.
Photo Credit: Image taken by Ausdance NSW on a studio visit, The Australian College of physical education DAIR Funded 2020. @theacpe
RAKINI DEVI @ ACPE<br />
Rakini Devi was able to complete part of her residency at the Australian College of Physical Education, with collaborators Jiva Partihpan, Nigel Kellaway, Kenny Feather and mentor Martin Del Amo. Rakini developed her creative project ‘I USED TO BE A DANCER’
“I Used to Be a Dancer” is effectively a story about my journey in dance, that I am inviting three of my colleagues to join me on. Through script, spoken word, dance and physical theatre, we will explore the choices that mature artists make to remain relevant. All the artists are experienced performers with a history of excellence in performance spanning several decades. The group is a mix of cultures and gender identities. This work has been in the planning stages for five years and is a timely work that argues the relevance of mature artists surviving in a youth-obsessed society.”
When restrictions allow, we look forward to supporting Rakini in completing her residency.
Photo Credit: Image supplied by The Australian College of physical education DAIR Funded 2020. @theacpe
RYUICHI FUJIMURA @READYMADE WORKS<br />
“In this residency, I hope to create more layers to the work developed over the last few years through my collaboration with Laura Turner, a video artist.”
ausdance nsw would like to thank our dair 2020 venue partners
ACPE – AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION<br />
ACPE is Australia’s leading provider of specialist undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the related disciplines of sport, dance, and physical education. As an independent tertiary institution located in the centre of Sydney’s internationally renowned Olympic Park, ACPE attracts individuals from around Australia and the world who which to launch or further their careers in the sports sector and its related professions. ACPE offers both a Bachelor of Dance Education and Bachelor of Dance Practice.
ALSONTVILLE STUDIO<br />
Ausdance is pleased to announce our new regional partner Alstonville Studio, located a 40min drive from Byron Bay. Director of Alstonville Studio Suzanne Whiteman has been dancing since she could walk and has had a long career in all styles of dance as a performer, teacher, choreographer, examiner and adjudicator in Australia Asia and the South Pacific. The Alstonville studio has been in operation for over thirty years and has genres, who are now working as professionals all over the world.
Alstonville Dance Studio is an integrated inclusive space in the Northern Rivers of NSW in the hinterland of the Ballina Shire and has hosted dance examinations, master classes and workshops. It is also the home to a community group known as the Little Dragons, a dance, drama and creative arts group for people living with and without disabilities. The Studio is in the original Presbyterian Church premises and has two spaces within the old church known as the “Temple” and the Church Hall “Studio” as well as a large garden space.
Suzanne is offering the “Studio” space for this DAIR project which features a wooden floor, barres and mirrors, sound system, with an equipped kitchen and outdoor seating area. Artists can stay in the space with overnight accommodation available. Local shops and public transport are within walking distance of the studio. The Northern Rivers is one of NSWs creative hubs and Suzanne collaborates with local artists and community groups, she is open to helping you with your residency and assisting you with your plans.
Practicing integrated artists are encouraged to apply for this residency.
Art In Motion - Imagine Residency<br />
Art In Motion is located in rural NSW Australia, in the Great Lakes District, 3.5 hours drive North of Sydney where the recipient will stay in the “Imagine” retreat to have time to themselves to research and discover their artist practice. Facing the spectacular views of the lake this is a space to feel free enough to focus on whatever project you aspire to as an artist. There is an outdoor stage that is available all hours (early morning and late afternoon are good for weather considerations) and a shed studio which is suitable for early mornings and afternoons in the summer.
This residency places focus on the process rather than the outcome, and invites mid or established career stage artists to apply and is suited to those wanted to create a multi-artform / experimental / research project.
CAMPBELLTOWN ARTS CENTRE<br />
Located on the edge of Sydney, Campbelltown Arts Centre (C-A-C) is in a unique position to forge collaborative exchanges between artists, disciplines and communities through the creation of new curatorial situations and challenging streams of practice. Contemporary artists are at the forefront of Campbelltown Arts Centre’s programming and through consultation with communities, we deliver a program that profiles contemporary visual arts, performance, dance, music, live art and emergent practices. Campbelltown Arts Centre is a cultural facility of Campbelltown City Council and located on Tharawal land. Campbelltown Arts Centre is assisted by the NSW Government through Create NSW and by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its funding and advisory body, and receives support from the Crown Resorts Foundation and the Packer Family Foundation.
THE MCDONALD COLLEGE<br />
Ausdance is proud to announce a new partnership with The McDonald College. Established in 1984 and now with over 30 years of excellence in performance, The McDonald College is committed to the academic and performing arts development of Australia’s youth. Their programs include acting, ballet, dance, music and musical theatre. Within the Dance programs, students study many styles to help develop their skills in a variety of dance forms: Contemporary, Classical Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop. The Dance Department employs ex-professional and working professional dancers/teachers who have a wealth of experience and reputation in the entertainment industry. Their combined expertise and knowledge aims to develop intelligent, knowledgeable, skilled and artistic performers who are versatile in many dance genres. The McDonald College recently announced the Senior Contemporary Dance Program with Sydney Dance Company, commencing 2019.
NAISDA DANCE COLLEGE
NAISDA Dance College is Australia’s premier Indigenous training college with a proud tradition of producing the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers since 1976. NAISDA Dance College offers professional expertise and word class training facilities to deliver accredited training programs that are rich in cultural learning and practice. Located on Darkinjung land just north of Sydney, they provide a creative learning space designed to inspire and equip Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people for the future. Their dance performance program is delivered by qualified trainers comprised of former principal dancers, respected choreographers and cultural tutors from diverse Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities.
READYMADE WORKS<br />
ReadyMade Works Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation that provides programming and studio space support for the independent dance community in Sydney and is a multi-purpose rehearsal studio suitable for the performing arts with a focus on the independent dance and its development. The ReadyMade Studio in Ultimo has been made possible through the generous support of City of Sydney & Create NSW.
This residency places focus on the process rather than the outcome, and invites mid or established career stage artists to apply and is suited to those wanted to create a multi-artform / experimental / research project.
RAD – ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE AUSTRALIA<br />
With over 14,000 members’ spread across 84 countries, The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the largest and most influential dance education and training organisations in the world. The Academy’s patron is HM Queen Elizabeth II. RAD Membership supports the advancement of dance and includes professional dancers, students, teachers, benefactors and friends. There are currently over 1,000 students in full-time or part-time teacher training programmes with the Academy and each year, the examination syllabus is taught to more than a quarter of a million students worldwide.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
AUSDANCE NSW
Ausdance NSW is the key support & advocacy body, for the creation, presentation and practice of dance in NSW.
Ausdance NSW is part of the Ausdance National Network.
Ausdance acknowledges and respects the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which we work and dance and pays respect to elders past, present and emerging.
Contact Info
AusdanceNSW
10 Hickson Road, Level 3, Arts Exchange Buliding, The Rocks, Sydney 2000
02 9256 4800
admin@dance.net.au
ABN 36 824 207 095