Cuddle
February 20 – 25, 2024
A dynamic and difficult duel filled with surprises, CUDDLE ebbs and flows through the joyful and riotous to the inventive and technically brilliant.
With the energy of an underground fight club, Harrison Ritchie-Jones and Michaela Tancheff weave contemporary dance with elements from martial arts, figure skating, rodeo barnyard dance and a host of more abstract inspirations.
Filled with surreal sonic and visual treats, CUDDLE surprised and delighted a small one-off showing at Chunky Move in March 2023. Following further development and exploration, CUDDLE will kick off the Arts House’s Season 1, 2024.
Choreographer and performer, Harrison Ritchie-Jones, explains that CUDDLE uses humour and absurdity mixed with hard core technique to strike a balance of not knowing when to laugh, feel scared or be moved.
“During our development of CUDDLE, Michaela and I mastered various forms of partner work. We would wear heavy duty ice hockey gear and balaclavas, usually practicing in car parks and public spaces,” says Ritchie-Jones.
“As we prepared to fight out the dance of our lives, we would do early morning runs pumping out Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger to build ourselves up like warriors mentally and physically. We cannot wait to share this energy with audiences at Arts House in February,” said Ritchie-Jones.
Arts House Acting Artistic Director, Olivia Anderson, highlighted that the excitement and word-of-mouth surrounding CUDDLE has been palpable since its intimate, one-off showing a year ago.
“CUDDLE is a witty, wild and wonderful work of dance from one of Australia’s most bright and daring talents. We are privileged and thrilled to be presenting it at Arts House,” said Anderson.
Bookings: artshouse.com.au
