Bodytorque
Arts Centre Melbourne from October 31 – November 2
The Australian Ballet proudly announces the 20th anniversary of its choreographic development program Bodytorque that has been a driving force for innovation and creative growth in dance over the past two decades.
In celebration of this milestone, Bodytorque will take the stage at Arts Centre Melbourne’s The Show Room from 31 October to 2 November 2024, featuring a dynamic lineup of original works.
Since 2004, Bodytorque has long been a vital platform for nurturing emerging choreographers from within The Australian Ballet’s dancers. Initially focused on talent from within the company, the program has since expanded to include rising choreographers from across Australia’s broader dance community.
The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Hallberg said: “We usher in the 20thanniversary of Bodytorque, returning to the stage and celebrating this important milestone in our program’s history.”
“The opportunity for our dancers to develop their choreographic voices and collaborate with both emerging and established choreographers is a testament to our commitment to creativity in ballet,” Hallberg continued.
As a vital stepping stone for emerging choreographers, Bodytorque has a storied legacy of launching talent into prominent roles, such as Alice Topp and Tim Harbour both who have gone onto resident choreographer positions within The Australian Ballet and have created works for other dance companies.
This year, Bodytorque presents six original pieces inspired by the evocative theme: NEW WORLD RECORD: Human Glory and Extinction. This thought-provoking concept invites an exploration of humanity’s triumphs and struggles through imaginative interpretations and narratives.
Featuring some of Australia’s most exciting emerging choreographers, this showcase presents premieres by The Australian Ballet dancers, including Principal Artist Jill Ogai, Serena Graham, Adam Elmes and Benjamin Garrett alongside Telstra Emerging Choreographer winners Erin O’Rourke (2022) and Yuiko Masukawa (2023). All works are mentored by The Australian Ballet’s Resident Choreographer, Stephanie Lake.
The participating artists will bring their unique voices to life as they delve into a wide array of human experiences. Responding to the provocation “New World Record“, these artists express their distinct and diverse voices, visioning hope, devastation, play, humour, perseverance, and desire. This year’s performances promise to be an unmissable exploration of dance’s new frontier.
The Australian Ballet is tremendously grateful for the generous support of the Geraldine Lawton Bequest, which has enabled the Bodytorque program to continue fostering creativity and innovation within our productions.
Bookings: https://australianballet.com.au/performances/bodytorque
