New Ground Collective presents Stage Inside Creative Challenges
Motivating & Supporting Dancers Affected by COVID19
After witnessing the devastating effects COVID-19 is having on the world, but in particular the arts and entertainment industry, Creative Director and Helpmann Award Winning choreographer Mitchell Woodcock ⏤ along with his production company New Ground Collective ⏤ wanted to do their part in bringing support to the community.
With the closure of every major production and hearing the emotional stories of fellow artists, Mitchell was inspired to create the #StageInside initiative which is designed at helping independent artists within the community who fall between the cracks of the government support packages on offer.
For the month of May, New Ground Collective is partnering with DanceSurance, JDN Creatives, Aaron Lee Worldwide, Jake Percey and more sponsors to give away free prizes, from Visa Gift cards to photoshoots.
New Ground Collective is uploading weekly creative tasks to keep artists motivated and inspired during this isolating time. Just just its first week they had more than 21,0000 views and over 100 participants in five days, and gave away $1,000.00 in Visa gift cards to ten chosen dancers who took part in the challenge.
To get involved in one of the free upcoming challenges, head to the New Ground Collective instagram page @newgroundcollective.
Dancers simply learn the short choreography posted each week via Instagram and then video themselves dancing the routine, uploading it to their Instagram pages and tagging @newgroundcollective and #stageinside. Entrants are shared and winners announced at the end of each week.
“In a time where we are so limited in our ability to interact face to face, it’s more important than ever to support one another,” said Mitchell.
BIO | Mitchell Woodcock
Mitchell Woodcock has established himself as one of Australia’s most sought after Performers and Creatives with an expansive career across all facets of the entertainment industry. He has worked alongside director Al Weeks as movement director for the Karl Lagerfeld X Modelco video Campaign in New York City. His choreography was showcased at the world movie premiere of Les Miserables, Toyota’s 2018 video campaign released worldwide and James Arthur’s hit music video ‘You Deserve Better’. Since establishing his production company New Ground Collective, Mitch has had the pleasure of creative directing and choreographing many live performances such as for Khalid, George Ezra, Tones And I, Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, James Arthur, Amy Shark, The Veronicas, Betty Who and on such programs and events including The Voice, Aria Awards, Dancing With The Stars, The Australian Open, Splendour In The Grass, and NYC Pride. In 2019 Mitchell creative directed and staged Guy Sebastian’s Australian tour, ‘Ridin With You’.
Mitchell’s diverse skill set has seen him direct and choreograph TV commercials for Australian touring productions, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory & Saturday Night Fever to staging fashion events for the Prix de Marie Claire Fashion Awards, Ben Sherman and working as a movement director on Naomi Campbell’s The Face TV series.
Mitchell’s creative company New Ground Collective travelled to Jakarta in 2018 where they conceptualised and delivered 24 performances in three weeks for the number one rated TV network RCTI.
As a performer, Mitchell made his professional debut in the role of A-rab at the age of 17 in the Australian production of West Side Story. Mitchell toured with the Australian cast in the Broadway musical Wicked in 2011/2012 and quickly joined the international tour of West Side Story in the role of Dance Captain at the age of 20. He performed to audiences all across Europe and resided at the famous Saddlers Wells Theatre in London. Since then Mitch has performed in Guys and Dolls and been the dance captain on Dirty Dancing, Kinky Boots and Chicago.
Mitchell has appeared as a featured dancer in Baz Lurhmann’s The Great Gatsby, ABC’s Dance Academy, The XFactor, The Disney Channel, Australia’s Next Top Model and numerous video and print campaigns. Over the years Mitchell has had the privilege of backup dancing for Kelly Rowland, Ricky Martin, Kylie Minogue, Will.i.am, Joel Madden, Delta Goodrem, Geri Halliwell, Olivia Newton-John and Sneaky Sound System for various performances in Australia.
During 2019 Mitchell was awarded the Helpmann Award for best choreography in a musical for his work on Saturday Night Fever. He has recently been a Creative Producer on The Voice and creative directed and choreographed the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony, produced by the Michael Cassel Group.
