This May, Metro Arts presents the inaugural DANCE24 Festival in Brisbane – a dynamic two-week celebration of the transformative power of contemporary dance.
From Wednesday May 22 – Saturday, June 1, the event serves as a testament to the transformative power of dance, igniting inspiration and connection among industry professionals, dancers, and audiences of all ages.
Offering an immersive experience that goes beyond the stage, the festival program includes interactive workshops, engaging discussions, industry networking events, and a celebration of the diverse expressions that shape the evolution of dance.
The mainstage program includes the world premieres of two brand new Australian contemporary works: Matriarchs and [gameboy].
Delving into the ancestral echoes of Indigenous womanhood, Matriarchs by Olivia Adams is an intimate contemporary dance work that reflects on the lived histories of past generations of First Nations women.
As an up-and-coming Indigenous artist, Adams’ has performed as part of Karul Project’s production SILENCE, produced work for BlakDance, and collaborated with Bangarra Dance and Digi Youth Arts.
[gameboy] by Amy Zhang draws inspiration from Japanese game shows, video games, and internet culture, exploring themes of competition and endurance.
[gameboy] also features two of Australia’s most sought-after dancers, William ‘Billy’ Keohavong and Ko Yamada (Winner of Red Bull Dance Your Style, 2022).
The festival will also feature a series of workshops and panels led by industry experts. Thomas E.S. Kelly, co-founder of Karul Projects, leads a Contemporary Dance Workshop exploring movement, technique, and choreographic processes of contemporary dance and First Nations traditional dance.
Lisa Wilson (Studio1), Nerida Matthaei (Phluxus2 Dance Collective), and Wania Serce (Pink Matter) will contribute their industry experience to a panel discussion on developing dance practice into a viable business (Dance and Business in Practice); while AusDance Queensland will host a panel discussion on Building Diverse Dance Communities within the sector.
Also included in the two-week program are one-off dance classes for dancers and dance enthusiasts to connect with renowned performers/teachers including: Heels Choreography with Kim Smit (Mad Dance House), Bollywood Dance with Andrea Lam (Dance Masala), and Breakdancing Basics with Leah Clark (Elements Collective). The classes offer opportunities for dancers of all levels to expand their skills.
Special community connection events at DANCE24 include a weekly Community Connect Mixer, offering artists and the dance community a chance to network and collaborate in a vibrant atmosphere; alongside an inside view of the critical process with Sandpit and Exchange at Studio1.
Visit metroarts.com.au for tickets and more information: metroarts.com.au
Dance24 is presented by Metro Arts in partnership with Blakdance, Mad Dance House, Studio1, and Ausdance Qld. This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
