PIECES 2025: Celebrating 20 Years of Groundbreaking Contemporary Dance

Two Decades of Daring Dance Innovation

Now in its 20th year, PIECES 2025 continues to redefine Australia’s contemporary dance landscape. Presented by Lucy Guerin Inc and the University of Melbourne Arts and Culture (UMAC), this year’s triple bill features brand-new works from three of the nation’s most original choreographic voices — Jenni Large, Jo Lloyd, and Siobhan McKenna.

The showcase runs for a strictly limited season from November 28–30 at the Union Theatre within the University of Melbourne’s Arts and Cultural Building in Parkville.

From Small Spaces to a National Stage

Originally established by Lucy Guerin in 2005 as Pieces for Small Spaces, the program began as a platform for choreographers to take creative risks and explore new ideas. Two decades later, PIECES has grown into one of Australia’s most anticipated annual dance events, celebrated for fostering experimentation and elevating contemporary performance.

“From humble beginnings in a small room above a parking garage, we could never have imagined the impact and longevity of PIECES,” says Guerin. “Many of Australia’s most daring and celebrated choreographic voices have tested their early ideas in this program. Every year for 20 years I have eagerly anticipated PIECES — and I can’t wait for this milestone season to unfold.”

This marks the second year of PIECES’ large-scale collaboration with UMAC, following its landmark expansion in 2024.

Three Bold New Works

🫁 Hush – Choreographed by Siobhan McKenna
Exploring the rhythm and tone of respiration, Hush transforms the act of breathing into a language of its own. Using the voice as a physical instrument, McKenna pushes the body beyond its edges — making the quiet loud and the internal visible.

🎞️ Post hoc – Choreographed by Jo Lloyd
Derived from the Latin term meaning “after this,” Post hoc examines anticipation and suspense. Drawing from cinematic language, Lloyd’s piece unpacks tension, endurance, and the relentless drive to stay connected in a world of extremes.

👄 Lip – Choreographed by Jenni Large
Fierce, cyclical, and raw, Lip unfolds as a sharp and hypnotic trance. Two performers are consumed by their own obsessions as the body becomes both weapon and witness in a provocative exploration of revenge and release.

Event Details

📅 Performances