INDance Program 2023

FOUR INDEPENDENT CONTEMPORARY DANCE WORKS

17 – 26 AUGUST

NEILSON STUDIO AT SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY

Up Close: Somos

1 – 12 November 2023

Neilson Studio Sydney Dance Company

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Photo by: Pedro Greig

SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY IS BASED IN WALSH BAY SYDNEY. OUR STUDIOS ARE SITUATED ON THE LANDS AND OVER THE WATERS OF THE GADIGAL PEOPLE OF THE EORA NATION.

SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY

ACKNOWLEDGES THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THESE LANDS AND WATERS ON WHICH WE PERFORM. WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THEIR ELDERS AND CULTURAL CUSTODIANS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE.

WELCOME TO INDANCE

We are thrilled to present our second program of INDance, connecting independent contemporary dancemakers to Sydney audiences.

Following the highly successful inaugural 2022 season, we are so excited to be able to continue this unique opportunity to witness more innovative works from the independent sector in our intimate studio space, the Neilson Studio at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. This continues our commitment to promoting and supporting Australian artists, their collaborators and the works they produce.

This exciting program explores diverse, abstract, and innovative concepts, travelling across the dynamic boundaries of dance, and reflecting four distinct parts of the vibrant contemporary Australian landscape. Audiences will experience a breadth of creative expression by the rich choreographic voices of Rachel Arianne Ogle, Kimberley Parkin, Ryuichi Fujimura, Jasmin Sheppard and their incredible teams of collaborators. This season of INDance was curated by Rafael and an independent panel, and we would like to thank them for their support in this process.

Over three nights each week, you will join us in traversing different performative styles, moods and themes, through four unique and innovative dance works.

In Week One, we are excited to present two Western Australian powerhouses. To begin, choreographer Rachel Arianne Ogle wields her technical and extremely physical style to draw immense unseen forces in the bodies of four dancers. Inspired by tectonic shifts, gravitational torsion and states of emotional rupture, precipice is a dance of abandon and precarious control. This is followed by Cry Baby from Parkin Projects, where audiences will be immersed in a choreographic playground resembling a 1970’s rock-show spectacular or their own bedroom. Head banging, hip thrusting content guaranteed.

In Week Two, both works explore issues of identity and the external lens. A double bill from Ryuichi Fujimura, HERE NOW will be performed solo, examining the desire to perform and the perception of time. And our final work, The Complication of Lyrebirds, was created by contemporary dancer, choreographer and director, Jasmin Sheppard, a Tagalaka Aboriginal woman with Irish, Chinese and Hungarian ancestry. The work is designed to break away from the social expectations of what it means to look or sound Aboriginal.

We thank The Neilson Foundation for their visionary investment in this initiative, fostering the development and maintenance of a flourishing landscape for independent dance in Sydney.

Lou Oppenheim Rafael Bonachela Executive Director Artistic Director

CONTENTS

WEEK ONE • PAGE 7

PRECIPICE • PAGE 8–13

CRY BABY • PAGE 14–19

WEEK 2 • PAGE 17

HERE NOW (DOUBLE BILL) • PAGE 22-27

THE COMPLICATION OF LYREBIRDS • PAGE 28–32

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • PAGE 32

Photo by: Alex Houy

WEEK ONE

THURSDAY 17 TO SATURDAY 19 AUGUST

6.30PM - PRECIPICE BY RACHEL ARIANNE OGLE

8.15PM - CRY BABY BY PARKIN PROJECTS

Photo by: Traianos Pakioufakis

precipice began its life as an exploration of various physical states in opposition. It very quickly grew to take on a voice and direction of its own, to transcend my initial ideas and delve into territory encompassing grander concepts of the universe. The infinite space in which we exist and to which we are intimately interconnected, and the invisible forces that are constantly at play within this, inspire a sense of awe beyond the realm of my conception. Through considering our place in this immense system, we unveil a profound vulnerability and fragility that is both ephemeral and enigmatic.

precipice had its premiere season at the Studio Underground at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in August 2014. It was my first full length work, and represents a pivotal moment in my career. It is a rare privilege as an independent choreographer to have the opportunity to revisit a work in repertoire. I was fortunate to revisit this work firstly in 2019 with a return season in Perth; and now again in 2023 in this, its first national presentation. Thank you to Sydney Dance Company for breathing new life into precipice nine years after its premiere season, through programming this work in INDance 2023.

- Rachel Arianne Ogle

Choreography Rachel Arianne Ogle

Performers Storm Helmore, Tyrone Robinson, Yilin Kong, Imanuel Dado

Composer Luke Smiles / motion laboratories

Lighting Design Benjamin Cisterne

Costume Design Colleen Sutherland

Costume Kristy Armstrong

Construction

Costume Nicole Marrington Technician

Production Peter Young Assistant

Producer Rachel Arianne Ogle

Auspice Auspicious Arts

This project has been assisted by the Australian government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body; Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Western Australia; City of Perth; and STRUT Dance.

PRECIPICE RACHEL ARIANNE OGLE

Choreographer & Producer

Rachel Arianne Ogle is a Western Australian dance artist with an extensive career as a dancer, performer, choreographer, educator and arts worker.

Rachel’s work is distinguished by precise, physically demanding and acutely complex choreography. Her detailed approach to kinaesthetic movement and energy allows intricate, elastic dynamics to emerge and immersive experiences to manifest through the dancing body. Rachel’s works seamlessly integrate choreography and design, creating synergetic collaborations with designers across visual, spatial and sonic planes.

Rachel has created work for Sydney Dance Company, Tasdance, Maya Dance Theatre (Singapore), Proximity Festival, Link Dance Company, WAAPA, Nat Cursio Company, STRUT Dance and STEPS Youth Dance Company.

Rachel’s work precipice was nominated for a Helpmann Award for ‘Best Dance Work’ and shortlisted for an Australian Dance Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance’ in 2015; and awarded ‘Best Choreographer in the Performing Arts’ WA Awards in 2020.

Rachel has been the recipient of an Asialink Residency (2016); an Australia Council International Residency at the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Centre (EMPAC) in New York (2017); and an Australia Council International Residency at Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris (2018).

Rachel’s latest work And The Earth Will Swallow Them Whole had its commissioned premiere in Perth Festival 2022.

Rachel is a 2022 Sidney Myer Creative Fellow.

PRECIPICE COLLABORATORS

LUKE SMILES (Composer)

Luke creates highly detailed soundtracks for theatre, dance and film, working across all areas of music composition, sound design, foley and sound effects editing. Luke has composed and produced soundtracks for many Australian and international artists and companies, including: All The Queens Men, Australian Dance Theatre, Bare Bones Dance Company (UK), Brink Productions, Belvoir, Cass Mortimer Eipper, Chunky Move, Dancenorth, Frontier Danceland (Singapore), Gabrielle Nankivell, Melbourne Theatre Company, Nederlands Dans Theatre, Ox (Belgium/Slovenia), Patch Theatre, Queensland Ballet, Rachel Arianne Ogle, Rambert Dance Company (UK), Restless Dance Theatre, State Theatre Company South Australia, Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Tasdance, The Farm, West Australian Ballet and Windmill Theatre Co.

BENJAMIN CISTERNE (Lighting Designer)

Benjamin’s reputation is for finesse and a gutsy approach to design, based in light. Benjamin is known for creating bold designs that are integral to a project. He works collaboratively on all projects and has been involved in all forms of museum, exhibition and performing arts projects professionally for 20 years. Benjamin is passionate about the capability of light in spatial design, performance and its role in art. Benjamin has extensive experience working both nationally and internationally with diverse teams and projects. He splits his time between exhibition / museum specification and performing arts design, where he is especially well known for his work in dance.

COLLEEN SUTHERLAND (Costume Designer)

Colleen Sutherland is a costume designer and maker from Perth, Western Australia. Following her graduation from WAAPA in 2011 she has toured with stage productions both nationally and internationally and has also designed for feature film. Colleen has worked with Hot Brown Honeys, West Australian Opera, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Ballet, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Barking Gecko Theatre Company, Perth Fringe Festival, Lost and Found Opera, Gelo, Fliptease, WAAPA and Briefs Factory.

STORM HELMORE (Dancer)

Storm Helmore is a Boorloo/Perth based contemporary dancer, performer, maker and teacher. Originally from Queensland and with a dance background in more commercial styles, she moved to Western Australia to complete her contemporary training at WAAPA. For over a decade, Storm has built her career working predominantly in the independent sector in Perth, collaborating and performing with numerous independent dance makers including Rachel Arianne Ogle, Scott Elstermann, Shona Erskine, Laura Boynes, Daisy Sanders, Isabella Stone, Sue Peacock, Aimee Smith and Tyrone Robinson. Storm is also a current ensemble member of Co3 Contemporary Dance.

PRECIPICE COLLABORATORS

TYRONE EARL LRAÉ ROBINSON (Dancer)

Tyrone Earl Lraé Robinson is a Perth based artist, working in a wide range of dance related fields such as performance, choreography, teaching, curation and dramaturgy. Robinson has been working professionally since 2010, and has worked with independents and companies both nationally and internationally. In 2021, Robinson launched his own contemporary dance company ‘OFF-base Dance’, alongside co-creator Shuling Wong. Their goal is to use the company as a platform to present more culturally and creatively diverse dance shows to Australian audiences.

YILIN KONG (Dancer)

Yilin is an Australian artist who is currently based in London performing in Punchdrunk’s The Burnt City. Yilin trained at WAAPA and was awarded the WA Dance Award for emerging artist upon graduating. She is a member of Co3, joining in 2019 and has worked with various companies across Australia including STRUT Dance, Marrugeku, and Barking Gecko Theatre Company. Independently she has worked and performed globally with multiple artists, including Rachel Arianne Ogle – precipice (2019), Sally Richardson – Gui Shu (2019) and Zachary Lopez – Peril (2020 Keir commissioned work). A highlight of Yilin’s career has been performing Batsheva’s Decadance through STRUT.

IMANUEL DADO (Dancer)

Imanuel Dado started as a breakdancer from Darwin, competing at interstate events and festivals. He started working with TRACKS Dance Company in 2005-2008 as a youth leader. Since graduating from WAAPA in 2011, Imanuel has worked with independent artists and dance companies in Australia and abroad. In 2017 Imanuel presented his first solo choreographic work in Sydney Australia at the Riverside Theatres Parramatta. He was also nominated for a 2018 Australian Dance Awards for his performance in the remount of William Forsythe’s One Flat Thing Reproduced. Imanuel also works in different art forms: acting/ puppeteering/videography focusing in dance films and documentation.

Photo by: Traianos Pakioufakis

Photo by: Hannah Laurent

CRY BABY

Cry Baby is a raw and edgy interpretation of Rock and Roll through the ages With a heavy utilisation of 70’s Rock & Roll music played live, the work cultivates an aesthetic backdrop of pastiche content and celebrates eclectic timelessness. Inspired by bona fide music legends such as Janis Joplin, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner and Iggy Pop, the work dissects their character idiosyncrasies to produce an electric, captivating movement study.

Cry Baby strips back the over-inflated ego of humanity and chooses to highlight the ridiculous and irrational aspects of our existence. The work features an all-female Rock & Roll triplet who command and reinvent the space, aiming to always achieve full transparency and authenticity. Supporting the rambunctious energy of the dancers, a three-piece rock band enlivens the choreography, transporting the viewer to an amusement park of egomania. The space is transformed from an ambitious rockshow spectacular to a stripped back Aussie gig with nostalgic lighting states.

Cry Baby analyses the thematic content of celebrity idolisation and paradoxically, the desire for authenticity in society, particularly in youth culture. The work looks closer at our

subconscious primitive desires when influenced by popular music. ‘Sex, drugs, Rock & Roll’, ego and self-preservation are presented in this work and how fame can dissect identity into an expendable quality, leaving us vulnerable to public scrutiny.

Choreography

Music

Lighting Design

Set / Costume

Design

Performers

Parkin Projects –Kimberley Parkin

Nathan Menage, Sze Tsang, Thomas Beech

Peter Young

Kimberley Parkin

Rhiana Katz, Celina

Hage, Georgia Van Gils, Lily Stokes

This project has been assisted by the Australian government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body; Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Western Australia.

CRY BABY PARKIN PROJECTS

Parkin Projects is a project-based dance company residing in Boorloo under directorship of Kimberley Parkin. Kimberley Parkin is a former graduate from The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts completing her Bachelor of Arts (Dance) Honours degree in 2018. She has presented dance works through STRUT Dance; Short Cuts, SITU-8: City & Groundworks 2022, and FRINGE WORLD Festival Perth, State Theatre Company of WA. She has performed professionally through FRINGE WORLD Festival, The Blue Room Theatre, Stephanie Lake’s Colossus and in various STRUT Dance programs.

Parkin Projects was established in January 2021 coinciding with their premiere work Cry Baby at The State Theatre Centre of WA during Perth’s FRINGE WORLD Festival. Parkin Projects developed the second iteration of Cry Baby for a season at The Rechabite in August 2021. The work received four Performing Arts WA nominations. In 2022, the company engaged in two residencies and two performance seasons to develop their second work Killjoy through STRUT Dance, Propel Youth Arts and Co3 Contemporary. Killjoy premiered at Groundworks 2022 and shortly after was accepted as Co3 Contemporary Dance’s IN.HOUSE recipient for 2023. This independently led company strives to be a leader in producing accessible and resourceful dance productions whilst closely working with other local artists. Through a project-based approach, the collective forges new pathways and connections within the arts industry by continuous adaptation in each passing performance.

Choreographer & Set / Costume Designer

CRY BABY COLLABORATORS

NATHAN MENAGE (Drums)

Nathan Menage has nine years’ experience in the music industry, commencing with his studies at SAE Institute and furthered through experience playing in bands (Glass Wave, Oceans and Omens, Brainfade), doing live sound, and running a recording studio for three years. His skills are most suited to engineering and problem solving, and enjoys a practical, hands-on approach. Nathan has also been involved in multiple dance productions through FRINGE WORLD Festival including The Underground and Cry Baby, going between drums and bass in different shows.

SZE TSANG (Guitar)

Sze Tsang (they/them) is a published researcher, performer and audio-visual artist residing in Boorloo/Perth, Western Australia. Sze’s practice and research focuses on the relationships between self and place through audio-visual works, and their experience as a practitioner-researcher. Sze performs and has exhibited works nationally and internationally as samarobryn.

THOMAS BEECH (Base)

Thomas is a multi-instrumentalist performing and recording musician. He plays saxophone, bass guitar, guitar and flute. Thomas plays as a band member for many groups in Perth as well as a session musician for other modes of performance. Some notable performances include: Ongoing live band session player for Your Girl Pho (winner of WAMAward ‘Best Live Electronic Act’ 2020); band member for Nika Mo; sound and performance contributor for In Lingering Gestures; an art instalment in Dwellingup; and Cry Baby by Parkin Projects developed and performed twice in the city of Perth.

PETER YOUNG (Lighting Design)

Born and based in Western Australia, Peter is an experienced and versatile creative professional who specialises in lighting design and creative projects. Since graduating from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2019, Peter’s presence in the field has quickly grown with a comprehensive and diverse list of credits to his name. Theatre design highlights include world premiere productions such as Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company’s FIFO (2020) and Dating Black (2021), as well as Fremantle Theatre Company’s production of Meat (2021). In addition to his creative credits, Peter has worked extensively, in a technical capacity, at many of the major theatres and performing arts venues across Western Australia including His Majesty’s Theatre, Crown Theatre and the State Theatre Center of WA.

CRY BABY COLLABORATORS

Celina Hage (Dancer)

Celina Hage is an Australian/Norwegian performing artist whose experience includes working with STRUT Dance, Mitch Harvey Company, Parkin Projects, Co3 Dance Company, Brooke Leeder, Robert Tinning, James Pham, Daisy Sanders, Rotem Weissman and others. She trained at WAAPA (2017) and subsequently at the Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance (Austria, 2019). In 2020 Celina performed in Hofesh Shecter’s tHE bAD for Perth Festival: in 2022 she was awarded a position in Perth Festival Lab as well as Hosting Residency with Central Eléctrica (Portugal). Her creative portfolio included co-choreographed works The Melody Haunts My Reverie 2022, soft encounters, boiled dreams 2021, and Dollhouse 2022.

Georgia Van Gils (Dancer)

Georgia Van Gils is an Australian based movement artist beginning her contemporary training at New Zealand School of Dance, graduating in 2017. Since, Georgia has been fortunate enough to work with choreographers and practitioners across Australia and abroad. Most notably, Legs on the Wall, The Farm, STRUT Dance, Co3 Company, Stephanie Lake, Parkin Projects, Catapult Dance, Kristina Chan and Tanja Leidtke. Recently Georgia’s performances include; Co3’s Gloria, STRUT Dance’s remount of Crystal Pite’s 10 Duets on a Theme of Rescue and Sam Coren’s SS Bodach Georgia has an intense desire for collaboration and developing versatility in her body.

Rhiana Katz (Dancer)

Rhiana Katz (she/her) is a Boorloo dancer, choreographer, and costume designer. She graduated with Honours in Contemporary Dance from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2018. She has performed nationally and internationally across Europe and Australia, including works by Crystal Pite, Hofesh Shechter, Parkin Projects, and Richard Cilli. Rhiana has presented original works for both stage and film, her most recent work (all) at once performed by WAAPA’s first year contemporary students (2022). Rhiana also works in costume and fashion design and makes wedding dresses in her spare time.

Photo by: Hannah Laurent

Photo by: Luke Currie Richardson

WEEK TWO

THURSDAY 24 TO SATURDAY 26 AUGUST

6.30PM - HERE NOW (DOUBLE BILL)

BY RYUICHI FUJIMURA

8.15PM - THE COMPLICATION OF LYREBIRDS

BY JASMIN SHEPPARD

Photo by: Alex Houy

HERE NOW (DOUBLE BILL)

When recognition is limited and reward is small, why perform?

This program is made of two chapters from the HERE NOW Trilogy (Fall! Falter!! Dance!!! and How Did I Get Here?), written, choreographed and performed solo by Ryuichi Fujimura as a double bill.

From the Choreographer:

Fall! Falter!! Dance!!!

I have often wondered about the desire to perform. What keeps bringing me back to the stage? Is it the applause from the audience? The lure of the bright spotlight? The brief and torrid moment of connection with an audience reminiscent of a one-night stand? Fall! Falter!! Dance!!! is a reflection on a contemporary dancer’s life, in which recognition is limited and the reward is small. Through this solo, selfdevised performance work, I ask myself the fundamental question: ‘Why perform?’

How Did I Get Here?

The second piece, How Did I Get Here? is the first instalment of my trilogy. It investigates how our perception of time changes as we age and how we recognize and accept the autumn phase of life.

Choreographer, Ryuichi Fujimura Writer & Performer

Dramaturg Carlos Gomes

Video Artist Laura Turner

Design Tobhiyah Stone Feller Consultant

Musician Hamed Sadeghi

Outside Eye Cloé Fournier

Original Lighting Frankie Clarke Designer (Fall! Falter!! Dance!!!)

This project has been supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body; the NSW Government through Create NSW; and through residencies at ReadyMade Works (Ausdance NSW DAIR), Abbotsford Convent (Pivot) and Temperance Hall (Critical Path and BalletLab). With special thanks to Emily Ayob, Brian Carbee, Kate Champion, Alice Cummins, Mayu Kanamori, Lim How Ngean, Michael Pigott, Rosalind Richards, Emma Sandall, Contemporary Asian Australian Performance (CAAP), Force Majeure, FORM Dance Projects, Performance Space and Redline Productions.

HERE NOW (DOUBLE BILL) RYUICHI FUJIMARA

Choreographer, Writer & Performer

Ryuichi Fujimura is an independent dance artist based in Sydney. Since the mid 1990s, he has studied contemporary dance technique as well as improvisation and choreography in Australia and overseas.

Over the last twenty years, Ryuichi has collaborated as a performer with both emerging and established artists/companies in various dance, theatre, opera, site-specific performance and film projects. He has performed for Xavier le Roy, Justin Shoulder, Tino Seghal, Vicki Van Hout, Jim Sharman, Alan Sachacher, Weizen Ho, Cloé Fournier, Force Majeure, De Quincey Co., La Fura dels Baus, Clockfire Theatre Company and The Living Room Theatre amongst others.

Ryuichi began his choreographic practice in 2013. In collaboration with Kate Sherman, he created two site-specific performance works (Under Harry’s Circumstances in 2014 and Under Different Circumstances in 2013). He has also created HERE NOW Trilogy, a collection of three short autobiographic solos (Fall! Falter!! Dance!!! in 2022, How I Practice My Religion in 2017 and How Did I Get Here? in 2014).

In recent years, he has collaborated with visual artists including the ArtHitects (Gary Carsley and Renjie Teoh), Justene Williams and Mel O’Callaghan performing at museum/exhibition spaces. In August 2022, he presented his HERE NOW Trilogy across two venues in Sydney over two weeks. In April 2023, he toured to Melbourne with HERE NOW.

HERE NOW (DOUBLE BILL) COLLABORATORS

CARLOS GOMES (Dramaturg)

Carlos Gomes is a Director/Dramaturg/and Performance Maker. Holding a MA in Theatre (UNSW), Gomes has created diverse crosscultural works, from text-based to aerial/physical theatre, site-specific, and installations. He has collaborated with numerous arts organisations including Legs on the Wall, Salamanca Theatre, UTP, PACT, Side-track, Ensemble Offspring, Performance Space, and Carriageworks. Gomes has directed many successful multidisciplinary works. His work has been presented at numerous festivals in Australia, and internationally. Most recently he curated Planet Nowra, a contemporary community event commissioned by Bundanoon Trust in Nowra. Gomes has also directed 360 immersive VR film projects Magic Carpet and New Realities Pandemic and Performance. Gomes is the artist director of Kantanka.

LAURA TURNER (Video Artist)

Laura Turner works across video, installation, theatre and performance. She has presented work in various forms and creative roles with Sydney Festival, Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Film Festival, Art Gallery of NSW, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Australian Theatre for Young People, Riverside Theatres, Legs on the Wall, Living Room Theatre, Clockfire Theatre Company and In Transit Co. She has worked in roles such as director, cinematographer, animator, editor and projection designer across live performance, film, and music videos and and exhibited her own art work with M Contemporary Gallery, dLUX Media Arts, UNSW Galleries and Articulate Project Space. Laura has taught workshops in theatre and film making at various organisations and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts / Arts from UNSW Art and Design.

TOBHIYAH STONE FELLER (Design Consultant)

Tobhiyah is a designer dedicated to live performance, interior, and installation projects. Set and Costume Design credits include:

AGNSW/Syd Festival/Clockfire: Night Parade of One Hundred Goblins; ATYP: The Resistance; Bell Shakespeare Education: Macbeth; Blacktown Arts Centre: My Name is SUD; Clockfire: Plenty of Fish in the Sea; Ensemble: Blue/Orange, Clybourne Park, Good People, and Killing Katie: Confessions of a Bookclub; Griffin: Splinter, Replay and Wicked Sisters; Performing Lines: Goddess and Variant. Tobhiyah worked with ATYP as fit-out design consultant for their Walsh Bay tenancy, for which the ‘Chillzone’ interior was shortlisted in the Public Space, and the Colour categories of the IDEA Awards 2022.

HERE NOW (DOUBLE BILL) COLLABORATORS

HAMED SADEGHI (Musician)

Hamed Sadeghi is an Iranian-born tar player and composer based on Gadigal Land (Sydney). Trained as a Persian classical musician in Tehran, Hamed’s haunting compositions give you a taste of his cherished culture. He has been scoring music for multiple theatre and dance productions including Sami in Paradise Belvoir 2018, Stop Girl Belvoir 2021, The Boomkak Panto Belvoir 2021, Cloe Fournier’s Tout ce [-‘sa] at Sydney Dance Company, William Zappa’s The Iliad at Sydney Festival and Adelaide Festival and Ryuichi Fujimura’s solo How I Practice My Religion.

CLOÉ FOURNIER (Outside Eye)

Cloé Fournier is a French-born Australian dance artist based on Gadigal Land. Her current practice involves a few slashes: choreography/ directing/performance (dance, physical theatre, acting)/dramaturgy/a bit of writing/ teaching/producing and probably more. Her constant existential crisis drives her to oscillate between worlds. Cloé has performed in major international festivals in Australia and overseas. She has worked with leading international companies, choreographers, directors and visual artists. Amongst them: Branch Nebula, Legs On The Wall, Stalker Theatre, Meryl Tankard, Vicki Van Hout, Michelle St Anne, Nasim Nsar, Nick Atkins and Martin del Amo. She is a regular teaching artist for Sydney Dance Company. Last year, she choreographed Tout ce [-‘sa] for Sydney Dance Company’s PPY22 Revealed.

Photo by: Heidrun Lohr

Photo by: Luke Currie Richardson

THE COMPLICATION OF LYREBIRDS

The Complication of Lyrebirds is a contemporary dance work designed to break away from the social expectations of what it means to look or sound Aboriginal.

Re-contextualising historical documents, such as ‘The White Australia Policy’ and ‘The Exemption Form’, as choreographic tools, The Complication of Lyrebirds investigates societal and cultural sources of expectations and pressures to create a unique and powerful choreographic narrative.

The lyrebird adopts the calls of other birds in order to appear attractive, however, there is an authentic identity to the bird that is no mimic. In the same way, Indigenous people are faced with external pressures to prove their ‘blackness’ and adopt different ways of talking and appearing. If your family was denied their culture by the impact of colonisation, then what really makes you Aboriginal?

Concept, Director Jasmin Sheppard, Tagalaka & Choreographer

Co-Collaborator, Kaine Sultan Babij, Dancer Eastern Arrente

Sound Designer, Naretha Williams, Wiradjuri Composer

Composer, Cris Derksen, Cree Musician

Video Artist Samuel James

Lighting Karen Norris, Moriori Maori Designer

Props Designer Emily Adinolfi

Costumer Fiona Holley Designer

Dramaturg Carly Sheppard, Tagalaka

Performers Kaine Sultan Babij, Eastern Arrente & Audrey Goth-Towney, Wiradjuri

This project was originally commissioned and produced Campbelltown City Council through Campbelltown Arts Centre and premiered as part of Sydney Festival 2021.

THE COMPLICATION OF LYREBIRDS JASMIN SHEPPARD

Concept, Director & Choreographer

Jasmin is a contemporary dancer, choreographer and director, a Tagalaka Aboriginal woman with Irish, Chinese and Hungarian ancestry.

Jasmin spent 12 years with Bangarra Dance Theatre, performing numerous lead roles such as Patyegarang, in which critics described her performance as “powerfully engaging, fluent dexterity” (Sydney Morning Herald). She choreographed one major work for the company, MACQ, on the 1816 Appin Massacres under Governor Macquarie which toured Australian capital cities, regional Australia and Germany.

Other short works include: No Remittance for Legs on the Wall and Choice Cut for Yirramboi festival, which made its proscenium arch debut at Ryerson Theatre, CA, at Toronto’s Fall For Dance North Festival, 2019.

Jasmin premiered her first full length work The Complication of Lyrebirds in 2021 at Sydney Festival; Campbelltown Arts Centre. This work was also supported by Native Earth Theatre Company.

In 2021 Jasmin co-directed Value for Money alongside Sara Black (Guts Dance, Araluen Arts Centre and Darwin Festival).

Jasmin created Given Unto Thee for Sydney Dance Company’s New Breed program, and most recently was performer, movement director and associate writer for the major theatre work by S Shakthidharan, 宿 (stay).

THE COMPLICATION OF LYREBIRDS COLLABORATORS

KAINE SULTAN BABIJ (Co-collaborator, Dancer)

Of Eastern Arrernte, Afghan and Croatian heritage, Kaine Sultan-Babij was born and raised in Whyalla, South Australia. The pursuit of artistic growth leads Sultan-Babij to the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA), Sydney and the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA), Brisbane. Sultan-Babij has toured Australia, North and South America, Europe and Asia, showcasing Australian Indigenous Contemporary and Contemporary Dance. Based in Adelaide, Sultan-Babij is Resident Choreographer and Indigenous Contemporary Dance Tutor at Kurruru Arts and Culture Hub.

CARLY SHEPPARD (Dramaturg)

Carly Sheppard is a cross-disciplinary performance artist whose work negotiates across dance and theatre performance, sculpture, drawing, voice and installation. Sheppard’s work predominantly explores the experience of being a part of the Indigenous diaspora of Australia. Some of Sheppard’s own work thus far include White Face for Next Wave Festival 2014; Moving House for Brown Cabs Scratch Series at Footscray Community Arts Centre 2015 and Womenjeka Festival at Footscray Community Arts Centre 2016; Nah Nuthin for Pieces for Small Spaces at Lucy Guerin Inc, Crackers n Dip with Chase n Toey, Arts House 2018.

NARETHA WILLIAMS (Sound Designer, Composer)

Naretha Williams is a composer, sonic dramaturg and experimental artist. A First Nations Wiradjuri woman of mixed lineage. Williams’ process-based work intersects installation and contemporary music, exploring themes around identity, place and the unseen.

Williams’ diverse musical interests span narrative score through to contemporary electronic music and she is engaged across the sector as a sound designer and composer, often working in contemporary dance and theatre. She is the 2019 winner of the Music Victoria Award for ‘Best Experimental or Avant Garde Act’ and released her first LP Record BLAK MASS on Heavy Machinery Records in 2020.

CRIS DERKSEN (Composer, Musician)

Canadian Tkaronto Based (Toronto) Cris

Derksen is an internationally renowned Indigenous Cellist and Composer. Originally from Treaty 8 in Northern Alberta, Derksen has paved their own sonic path braiding Classical Electronic Indigenous music. As a composer she has her foot in many worlds working in Choral, Symphonic, Film, TV, Theatre, Dance and Fashion. As a performer Derksen performs nationally and internationally. Recent destinations include Hong Kong, Australia, Mongolia, Europe, Mexico and a whole lot of Canada; the place Derksen refers to as home.

SAMUEL JAMES (Video Artist)

Samuel James has worked as a projection designer for contemporary performance and dance for twenty years. James has worked on over 200 projects from new media installations on residencies in regional Australia and Europe and theatre and dance works in the Australian festivals. James has won ‘Best Australian Dance Film’ at the Australian Dance Awards (2006) for Nun’s Night Out with choreographer

Julie Anne Long and received commissions from Reeldance (Vivaria 2009), Artspace

Sydney (Amygdala: Fear Conditioning 2010), Performance Space (The Cracks 2010) and Campbelltown Arts Centre (Dream Shelving 2012). James completed an MFA Research at COFA in 2012.

THE COMPLICATION OF LYREBIRDS COLLABORATORS

EMILY ADINOLFI (Props Designer)

Emily Adolfini started in the Melbourne independent theatre scene just over ten years ago, working with professional independent companies such as THE RABBLE, The Dog Theatre, Union House Theatre and La Mama across prop making, stage management and design.

Now a Sydney based prop-maker, after graduating from NIDA (BA in Properties) in 2013, Adolfini has worked as an assistant art finisher and prop-maker for films such as Unbroken, Gods of Egypt and Hacksaw Ridge. Across theatre, Adolfini has worked as an assistant propmaker for companies such as Sydney Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre, Sydney Chamber Opera, Sydney Festival and Bangarra Dance Theatre. Adolfini is currently working as an assistant prop-maker at Sydney Theatre Company since joining the company full-time in 2016.

KAREN NORRIS (Lighting Designer)

Karen Norris has extensive experience as lighting designer for Theatre/Dance and Music throughout Australia and Europe. Karen was based in London and Nice from 1998 to 2008. Recent designs: Terrain, Lore Bangarra Dance

Theatre, NAISDA Francis Rings & Sani Ray; Songs Not To Dance To and Champions Martin del Amo; On View Sue Healey; CELLA Germany SF 2018 & Dance Massive 2019 & HIPS Narelle Benjamin; Winyanboga Yurringa Andrea James Moogahlin, KOTAHI Atamira Dance Company NZ, New Zealand Festival 2019 Moogahlin; RED Liz Lea Dance, plenty serious TALK TALK Vicky van Hout, Silence Karul Projects; and Sunshine Super Girl Andrea James Performing Lines.

FIONA HOLLEY (Costume Designer)

Fiona Holley is a design graduate from NIDA. She designed the costumes for Sydney Dance Company on Rafael Bonachela’s 2011 LANDforms, 2012 Project Rameau, and 2014 2 in D minor.

Holley also designed costumes for Sydney Dance Company’s 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 New Breed seasons. For the 2015 Sydney Festival she collaborated with Artist Mira Calix for the Inside There Falls installation at Carriageworks. In 2016, Holley designed the costumes for Gabrielle Nankivell’s Wildebeast with Sydney Dance Company and for the 20142019 seasons of Sydney Dance Company’s PPY Revealed, working with Choreographers Lisa Griffiths, Ian Colless, Iratxe Ansa, Zachary Lopez and Kristina Chan.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Photo by: Daniel Boud

Sydney Dance Company at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct is a