the fondue set: retrospectacle

This is a new old work. Three weeks ago we (me, Elizabeth Ryan and Emma Saunders) celebrated ten years of work as The Fondue Set  This show went through many permutations in the ideas stage from the massive (a residency, festival, and accompanying exhibition) to the small (a little party with a task based talking improvisation) to the quite big again when we were generously offered the big theatre at Carriageworks. What Retrospectacle became was a lo-fi one hour improvisation on a large stage with fantastic lighting and pants. The pants made us feel spectacular. Heidrun Lohr's photos make us look spectacular. And we had a very good time together trying to remember all our work over the years. We also think maybe we made better improvisations in our rehearsals together in the lead up. Perhaps thats why the usual way is to have a creative development, pick the best bits and then do the show. This time we just did the show. 

While I'm away, Emma and Elizabeth are going to make a solo each and perform them as a double bill called 'Life Without Jane'. I'm going to write a speech to go with it titled 'Everything That Happens Without You.' The performance is set for the 28th of January next year. Just in time for my birthday.

folk dancing:egg dance

Before we leave I thought I would take the chance to collect some of my old work. This is from my shorts works curation, Folk Dancing! at Campbelltown Arts Centre in 2009. Folk Dancing! was such a great project. I got to curate all my favourite choreographers (who you can see here, here, here and here) and made this egg dance with the wonderful Ianthe Goodwin-Brickhill and Venettia Miller, who risked broken ankles during the rote rehearsals for this work. Enjoy!

a rationale: first post

I feel the need to explain (to myself at least) the reason I want to start a blog. I know that for many people having an 'online presence' is as natural as, well, having an iphone, but I feel somewhat uncomfortable with having a kind of self somewhere else (and quite comfortable with my cheap nokia). The times I've been published in RealTime, put a video up on Youtube and my short dalliance with Facebook have given me a strange feeling of unease that I am not physically present alongside this other. This might come from being a performer. Not having to worry about what people are thinking of what I'm doing because I'm too busy doing it. And yet, I'm starting this blog.

The initial thought to start it came about because I was very lucky to be awarded the 2010 Robert Helpmann scholarship from Arts NSW. One of the criteria for this award is that the recipient will share the outcomes of their work in some way with the rest of New South Wales. In my application, I didn't say I would write a blog, but since receiving the scholarship, I have been thinking about ways to share as a sort of joke (I was going to call this 'For the New South Welsh'), but also meaning it too. I think that one of the shortcomings of dance (in Sydney at least) is the lack of a sharing of process. So this is my sharing. You can probably read it too if you're not from New South Wales.

Also, as I get older, I've become more interested in writing. Writing about dance. Writing next to dance. Or just writing. So I thought this might be a place to collect some of this. And as well as that (and possibly most importantly), since my friend Kellie started dear olive, I've become a bit obsessed with reading blogs, and have developed an embarrassing habit of making up blog posts in my head. Then I began a project with Gail Priest where we are blogging to each other, and I am no longer afraid of the format (but I'm obviously no graphic designer). And last of all, I thought it might be a good way to let friends and family see what Toby, Ada and I are up to, because, of course, I'm too egotistical for Facebook.

If this is anything like keeping a journal, its sure to fail. I have a book which has 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 written on it, and inside is a very well kept (and overly verbose) account of the first ten days of January for each year. Because I kept making New Years Resolutions, and my resolve lasts about ten days. Look forward to some lengthy posts, followed by nothing.

A note on the name: After watching Blue Murder again recently, Toby detailed with devastating clarity the reasons to be dedicated to process rather than outcomes. He was talking about the police force and corruption. I was thinking about dance practice, but it made complete sense to me about why I am interested in what I do. Of course I can't remember his eloquence, but it was something about there being no ends that justify certain means. Or that you have to dedicate yourself to a process and not worry about results. Ways and Means.
And also of course a little nod to Pavement. Transport Is Arranged. And it is.