‘embodied' performed at The Butter Factory Theatre

2010 was the second year of the dis/assemble dance project. After the enormous success of the pilot project, the team have secured government funding to ensure the continuation and growth of ‘dis/assemble’.

The 2010 project built on the success of the pilot project and continues to work with dancers from the 2009 pilot program from SITE (dancers with a disability) and the Regional Academy of Performing Arts (highly trained young dancers).

There was two components to the 2010 project:

New contemporary dance works:

After a 6 month workshop program, participants in the project worked with choreographer Tim Podesta to create three complete live dance works. These works were performed in a season at HotHouse Theatre in October 2010.

During the pilot project, Tim Podesta demonstrated that contemporary dance has the ability to include people with a disability in a mainstream way. His style of choreography allowed for ‘disability’ to become woven into the fabric of the dance works to become ability – allowing the lines between ability and disability to fade away.

Short dance films:

Film maker Helen Newman worked with participants in the project to create three short dance films. These were works specifically created and developed for film. These works formed part of the final live performance, but the medium of film also allowed them to have a life of their own. The film format will allowed us to upload them onto the web, enter them into short film festivals, and provide them to other organisations to screen.

Live performances:

Due to the sucess of the pilot project - 2010 saw the group double the season of performances at HotHouse Theatre - taking the number of performances to four. The season included a special matinee performance for disability organisations and schools. In 2009, this performance sold out with very positive feedback about giving people with a disability the opportunity to see their peers perform in a mainstream performance in a mainstream venue.

The aim of the dis/assemble project is to push the boundaries at every level; to explore the creative development of young dancers with and without disabilities. The project aims to provide continued development for participants and empower them using contemporary dance as a medium for expression.

It has to be emphasised that this project is not a `dance ability’ project. It is about integrity and equality. It is about changing the vocabulary of movement and using contemporary dance to engage and investigate each dancers’ individuality and their unique ableness regardless of their age or disability.