The post It’s all about the dance – Amrita Hepi wins Indigenous Residency Scholarship appeared first on .
]]>For more information on how to participate go to: http:CornerDanceLab
Dance Integrated Australia and Arts Northern Rivers have just announced Amrita Hepi as the new recipient of the inaugural Indigenous Residency Scholarship for The Corner Dance Lab 2016.
Hepi replaces Taree Sansbury who has taken up an opportunity to travel to Colorado, USA to work with the International Association of Blacks in Dance.
Hepi, a descendant of the Ngapuhi tribe in Northern New Zealand and the Bundjulung people in Northern New South Wales, joins other scholarship recipient Tyrel Dulvarie, who is a descendant of the Yirriganydji and Mamu people of Cairns and Innisfail.
The Indigenous Residency Scholarship is a new initiative for The Corner Dance Lab, which celebrates and promotes diversity in Australian contemporary dance.
The two scholarships valued at $1500 each are funded by Arts Northern Rivers and cover travel, accommodation and registration fees for two emerging Indigenous artists in the first three years of their dance career to participate in the nine-day dance lab held on the NSW North Coast.
Amrita Hepi is an emerging independent choreographer and performance artist and has performed at the Museum of Contemporary Arts alongside Tony Albert and Richard Bell for Blak Christmas and will next year perform at Next Wave Festival.
Hepi attended NAISDA in 2014 before travelling abroad to train independently in New York at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and Broadway Dance Centre and is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Dance at Macquarie University.
Hepi said, “I’m wanting to focus on how to make work that’s more broadly accessible and compelling. Working with the other amazing artists and teachers that are involved in The Corner will help realise this.”
Tyrel Dulvarie: Participitaing in the Corner Dance Lab in Federal
Tyrel Dulvarie, who is currently starring along side Hugh Jackman in the upcoming production of Broadway to Oz, is an ACPA graduate currently training with the Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year. He comes from a diverse cultural background with Malaysian, Aboriginal and German heritage.
“I am looking forward the nine-day residency, to learn, collaborate and experiment with other artists,” said scholarship recipient Dulvarie.
Now in its third year running, The Corner Dance Lab will return to the historical Federal village 30 minutes inland from Byron Bay from 15 – 23 January 2016.
Co-facilitators Philip Channells (Dance Integrated Australia) and Gavin Webber (The Farm Company) bring together an exciting line up of dance practitioners, musicians and visual artists from the local area, interstate and abroad for a practice-led dance laboratory at Jasper Corner (Federal Hall).
Philip Channells said, “We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to Amrita and wish Taree the best of luck with her project in America.”
The Corner Dance Lab is a nine-day skills development and performance making intensive for emerging and established dance artists from diverse backgrounds, different embodiment and life experience wanting to challenge themselves physically, intellectually and artistically.
Expressions of Interest are open until 20 December 2015. For more information, email: Sean Campbell [email protected]
For more information about The Corner Dance Lab, visit the link below
Creative Director / Philip Channells
t 0266 884408 / m 0432 073 304
The Corner Dance Lab 2016 is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW and is endorsed by the World Dance Alliance. The Indigenous Residency Scholarship is supported by Arts Northern Rivers through the Ministry for the Arts (IVAIS program). Dance Integrated Australia is an Associate Organisation of Ausdance NSW.
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]]>The post Comical and combatative, Cockfight explores the limits of physical theatre appeared first on .
]]>For the last eighteen months Gold Coast-based company The Farm has been developing the work as part of NORPA Generator (NORPA’s creative development program) in collaboration with NORPA Artistic Director Julian Louis. Cockfight will premiere at NORPA followed by performances in Cairns and Townsville with a national tour planned for 2017.
“The Farm are one of Australia’s most fearless and dynamic dance companies,” says Julian Louis. “It’s been exciting to collaborate with The Farm in a creative environment that is limitless and where there’s a real sense that anything can happen.”
Like an episode of The Office meets a cage-fight, Australian style, Cockfight is a comical, combative and ultimately tender performance that explores masculinity and pushes the limits of physical theatre.
It opens with two blokes in an office. One older, one younger. They challenge each other in a series of comical one-upmanships that build to a moment of impact where everything is suspended, the flash of bared teeth, the mutual reliance on the fight, the desperation and loneliness of success.
Cockfight is a poetic look at the power play that occurs between men and the frailty of the body. It is evocative of age and passing time and questions our culture’s desperate desire for achievement. Without each other these two performers have nothing left to fight for. Dance is a young man’s game. What happens when someone higher up the food chain gets weak and is ready to be taken down?
At the heart of Cockfight is a very real relationship between performers Joshua Thomson and Gavin Webber who have been working together for many years. Their humour, trust and understanding allow them to take extreme physical risks that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Bringing together the inventive theatricality of physical theatre company The Farm with Julian Louis’ dynamic theatre making style, Cockfight will provoke and excite in equal measure. Come and see what happens when these two performers give it all they’ve got.
Cockfight by The Farm and NORPA – Joshua Thomson and Gavin Webber. Photo: Kate Holmes.
About The Farm:
Based on the Gold Coast with roots in Berlin, The Farm is an international network of highly respected artists, ranging from choreographers and independent dancers to musicians and designers. The artistic direction of the company is led by Gavin Webber and Grayson Millwood who have been making work together for the past fifteen years across four continents. The Farm works out of Queensland but retains and builds on its national and international pedigree and touring record. Touring highlights include, Venice Biennale, Tanzplattform (Germany), Barbican Theatre, Europe, Canada and Australia.
The Farm is driven by a desire to connect to anyone, from dance and theatre virgins to aficionados and professionals. Often described as cinematic, their work is based on universal subjects and themes that matter. The Farm create contemporary performances that transcend expectations of what dance can be and how and where it should be viewed.
“These guys make dance like the Coen brothers make films.” Sydney Festival
“Intensely theatrical movement with a keen Aussie sense of play and irony never far away.” Brisbane Courier Mail
COCKFIGHT Creative Team:
Cockfight was developed by members of The Farm with guest artist Julian Louis.
Directed by Joshua Thomson, Gavin Webber, Kate Harman, Julian Louis; performers Joshua Thomson and Gavin Webber; lighting design Mark Howett;sound design; Luke Smiles; set Design Joey Ruigrok and Joshua Thomson; producer Performing Lines
COCKFIGHT
By The Farm
NORPA at Lismore City Hall
Thu 17, Fri 18, Sat 19 September, 7:30pm
Diner & bar from 6pm
Running time: 70 mins (no interval)
Patron advice: Recommended for ages 15+
Bookings: 1300 066 772 or www.norpa.org.au
WORKSHOP: Saturday 19 September 5-6pm, NORPA at Lismore City Hall
Physical theatre workshop with The Farm for professional dancers. Led by Kate Harman, Joshua Thomson and Gavin Webber. For more details contact NORPA 1300 066 722 or [email protected].
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]]>The post Win a double pass to Byron Ballet’s Gala bill appeared first on .
]]>“We’re presenting part of two absolutely classic ballets next weekend,” says Director and choreographer of the Byron Ballet, Yvonne Hall. “What I personally like about Coppelia is that although it’s a comedic story, it’s also about romance, betrayal and mistaken identity.”
Most of us, of course, know the storyline: Dr Coppelius, the eccentric toymaker, creates beautiful, life-like dolls. A village boy, Franz, is intrigued by the prettiest doll of all – Coppelia. Franz’s fiance becomes jealous and sets out with her friends to find out more about this mysterious young woman, and so the comedic chaos begins. The company will be presenting Act 2/3.
“We’ll be presenting Acts Two and Three,” says Hall. “Coppelia is the perfect family ballet and the music, composed by Leo Delibes, and it’s a wonderful introduction to classical music for young children.”
Hall is delighted that the production sees the return to the company of the now Brisbane based Laura Kate Terry. “The principal female role, Swanhilda, will be danced by Laura Kate Terry – a Lennox Head girl originally, who has worked her way up throught the ranks of Byron Ballet over the years. She is a great actress as well as a dancer, which is really important in this comedic role,” says Hall.
Jeremy Gates will be performing with the Byron Ballet for one weekend only.
Professional dancers Jeremy Gates and Thomas Dilley will also be performing variations from other class ballets. Gates came to ballet via a somewhat unusual route. Originally a keen footballer and cricketer, Gates was also interested in acting while he was at school, and a friend suggested to him that to improve his acting skills he should learn to dance. Fast forward a few years and Gates is now embarked on an international career, dancing with the Thuringer Staatsballett in Germany. Originally he had no intention of doing ballet. “I thought it was for girls,” he says, “but I was also starting to enjoy it more and more, so in the end I decided to give away the hip-hop and break dancing and concentrate on ballet.”
Hall is thrilled to have a dancer of Gates’ calibre for the show. “Unfortunately Jeremy will be returning back to his ballet company in Germany after the show – but it’s a shame we can’t keep him,” she laughs.
Thomas Dilley will be in Byron Bay next weekend to perform in Coppelia and Bolero.
For ballet lovers the chance to see dancers of the standard of Gates, Thomas Dilley, who outdanced hundreds of dancers to get through to the finals of Youth America Grand Prix Ballet (featured in our main shot) and Laura Kate Terry doesn’t happen too often in the Northern Rivers. “This is really ballet of an oustandingly high level,” says Hall. “I’m extremely proud to be able to present the company in our Gala performance, doing work of this calibre.:
The famous Ravel’s Bolero is one of the most sensual and hypnotic works of all time, building to an irresistable climax. Byron Ballet dancers will be presenting a contemporary work with a flamenco flair.
“The dancers are really enjoying the contrast of these two dance pieces – the music of Bolero is really quite addictive – it does put everyone into a trance, it’s amazing,” says Hall. “I’m sure the audience are going to walk away having enjoyed a truly amazing Gala programme.”
The Byron Ballet’s Gala Performance is on Saturday August 29 at 2.00pm and 7.00 pm at the Byron Theatre. To book tickets go to: www.byroncentre.com.au To win a free double pass and a copy of Candida Baker’s latest book, Belinda the Ninja Ballerina leave a comment in the box below, or on Verandah Magazine’s Facebook page, or on our instagram – Verandahmagbyron.
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]]>The post Two events with Victoria Tennant appeared first on .
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Verandah Magazine is proud to present two don’t miss events – an intimate Sunday lunch with Hollywood actor Victoria Tennant talking about her ballerina mother Irina Baronova, on Sunday March 29, and an evening with Victoria Tennant at the Arts Centre Gold Coast on Tuesday evening March 31. Victoria, in conversation with Verandah Magazine publisher and editor Candida Baker, has extraordinary stories to tell of her mother’s journey from Russia to the hinterland of Byron Bay, where she spent Baranova spent her final decade. Victoria’s beautiful hard-back book, Irina Baronova and the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo is published by the University of Chicago Press and will be available at the event.
Read more here: verandahmagazine.irinas-legacy-lives/
Booking details:
Byron at Byron: Lunch with Victoria Tennant: Sunday March 29, 12.30pm, $85 per head. Enquiries: [email protected] or phone 02 66392000
Arts Centre, Gold Coast: An Evening with Victoria Tennant : Tuesday, March 31, 6.30pm, $45: Book here: theartscentregc.an-evening-with-victoria-tennant
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Sprung!! dancers Max McAuley and Zac Mifsud. Photo: Katrina Folkwell
It’s such a simple idea really – a community foundation that never spends its capital, and invests the capital in perpetuity.
That idea, which started with the community foundation movement in Ohio in the early 20th century, has seen over 1,700 community foundations established worldwide, and here, in the Northern Rivers the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (https://www.nrcf.org.au/) is celebrating its first ten years as a community fund which is now worth over one million dollars, with 650,000 dollars worth of grants awarded during that time.
For Niall Mulligan, the Counselling Centre Manager for Lifeline Northern Rivers, (https://www.lifeline.org.au/Home) the NRCF grants provide invaluable support for projects outside of their emergency service. “We’ve been lucky enough to receive three grants which have allowed us to run pilot programs such as working with the Winsome Hotel to provide a counsellor one day a week for the service they provide giving transitional housing for marginalised men,” Mulligan says. “Another grant went towards a pilot program to an-after suicide support group, which at Lifeline we believe is an invaluable service. We know from all our research that suicide is usually impulsive, and because of that it has a massive effect on those left behind. Of course, that’s why Lifeline exists because we know that if we can have the opportunity to talk with people at the time they are thinking of committing suicide then we have a strong chance to save their lives.”
Mulligan admires the diversity of projects that the NRCF supports. “What I like about the NRCF is that it’s so locally based, and it can help create strong relationships with small organizations that might otherwise struggle to get funding. I’ve been blown away by the diversity of projects – some of them are very inventive and innovative. To me the NRCF reflects that idea that when people who have something to spare come together they can make a bigger impact collectively than individually. In a way it’s back to the old-fashioned idea of community and it’s a great model for the future.”
(Photos: courtesy of NRCF/Jimmy Malecki)
For Mulligan himself, who describes himself as: “a rationalist to the core”, living in the alternatively-minded Northern Rivers can sometimes be a challenge. “I’ve been in Australia 21 years, I met a wonderful woman from Casino in a pub in London, and that was it, my life was irrevocably changed,” he says, laughing. “We’ve lived in many places, but here I am fighting a constant argument with everybody on subjects like alternative medicine, but that in itself is the attraction of the area – even if you don’t agree, being in favour of diversity is a good thing, and it’s diversity the NRCF help support.”
For the chairman of the NRCF, John Callanan, who has overseen the growth of the fund from zero to a million in ten years, his goal is simple: “I want to say to people – in the next ten years let’s add an extra zero to the end of the million, and then instead of giving away $65,000 in grants every year we can give away $650,000. It’s a small zero but it would make for a phenomenal outcome.” Callanan, who was involved for many years with Pathways to Manhood, a community based rite of passage for boys, as well as Uncle Byron Bay, (https://uncle.org.au/) is a strong believer in funding that enables organisations to help people better their lives, and perhaps no more appropriate example of that could be the funding the NRCF have provided to Sprung!! Integrated Dance Theatre. (www.sprung.me)
The company was launched in 2012 by Sue Whiteman, director of the Alstonville Dance Studio, and Robyn Brady, paediatrician and creative arts practitioner of Planet Creature – the idea literally springing from a dance and drama workshop held for dancers with and without disability in the Northern Rivers. Under the current artistic directorship of ex Sydney Dance Company member Michael Hennessy, the ensemble, which now includes 25 dancers, has already enjoyed amazing success with performances locally and nationally, including an appearance at the 2014 Australian Youth Dance Festival in South Australia.
For Robyn Brady, the President of Sprung!!, the success of the project is a testament she says, to the courage and talent of the dancers. “Our aim is to alter audience perception of what people with disabilities are capable of – and we are achieving that in a great way. We’ve been the centre of the fiery finale of the Lantern Parade in Lismore two years in a row now, and had an amazing response,” she says. “Jillie Jackson, the director of the Lantern Parade, said she wanted to ‘shine a light on those kept in shadow’, and I think that is a beautiful way of putting it.”
With dancers coming from as far away as Murwillumbah and Evans Head, logistics can be complicated but the company meets for rehearsals once a month, and for more intensive blocks as they get closer to their major production – the end of year show A Day in the Life, at the Byron Theatre which will take place on Saturday September 27 and Sunday September 28. ((tickets from https://www.byroncentre.com.au/whats-on/.)
For Brady, one of the effects of the grants of the NRCF grants has been to allow the company to stretch its wings and bring together creative people to work with the team. “I think what has impressed me most of all during my time in the Northern Rivers is the wealth of performers, dancers, writers and artists living and working here, and many of them are finding their way to our door because the idea of working with people with disabilities is inspirational for them,” she says. “In fact, in some ways, we are a place where everybody can break away from the rules and examine their creativity, and that’s a great thing.”
On Friday September 26, the NRCF will be celebrating their 10-year anniversary with a fundraising dinner at the Byron at Byron from 6.30 – 10.00pm. Mick’s Sashmi Band will provide entertainment and Joel Salom will MC. An auction and raffle will be held on the night. Tickets are $165 inc. GST with all proceeds to the NRCF’s General Giving Fund. To RSVP contact the Foundation on (02) 6686 2887 or email [email protected].
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