Tracks Choreographic Program provides an opportunity for emerging makers to explore the mechanics and creative scope of choreography in a process-led environment. The workshop series encourages participants to flex their choreographic muscles (brain and body!) within a supportive studio setting.

In 2021 we have 14 local participating artists: Steph Spillet, Peta Goodrem, Sita Valadian, Eleni Vettos, Stephanie Thompson, Nicky Fearn, Mave Ward, Katy Moir, Rachal Van Wyk, Kate Boston Smith, Raj Pillai, Omaya Dona Padmaperuma, Cat Hart and Felicity Wardle.

With just two weeks until the Choreolab showings for the public, we thought we'd catch up with the artists to hear about their experience so far...

Steph Spillet

What do you love about moving and dancing? 
There is no right or wrong, it’s good for the body and mind, I can make it my own.

What does Tracks mean to you at the moment?
Tracks will always be my dance family, somewhere I can always come to even if I’ve been interstate. It's somewhere I can create, a safe place to be myself, and where I know I will be mentored to be my best self.

Peta Jane Goodrem

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program?
I wanted to do something that I felt was out of my depth and challenging, and be a part of an experience that tuned me into my body.

What are you currently interested in creatively, other than dance?
Visual Art (bodies and plants), music, singing and sculpture.

Sita Suren Arya Valadian 

What do you love about moving and dancing?
I love the expression. Taking something from within me and bringing it out into the world.

What are you currently interested in creatively, other than dance?
Poetry. I love writing poetry. I took it up to express myself when my body couldn’t dance any more.

Eleni Vettos

What do you love about moving and dancing?
Not being in control for a moment.

What are you currently interested in creatively, other than dance?
I'm interested in paint-by-number sets, exploring Darwin and RuPaul‘s drag race.

Stephanie Rebecca Thompson

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program? Why did you apply?
I started teaching burlesque and choreographic solos, and choreography did not come easily to me. I didn’t trust my creativity and wanted to learn choreographic elements and grow with other artists and movers.

What are you currently interested in creatively, other than dance?
I'm interested to go Kayaking in Katherine Gorge.

Nicky Fearn

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program? Why did you apply?
Why did I apply? To have fun, and learn new ways of creating work, to share a passion with others / people from very different experiences and backgrounds.

What does Tracks mean to you at the moment?
Tracks means new opportunities at my later stage in life and career, freedom to explore, to have no judgement / outcome, free to find / fail / fully have fun.

Mave Ally Ward

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program? Why did you apply?
To gain / expand on my dance skills as well as being able to get my name and work out into the world.

What are you currently interested in creatively, other than dance?
Making bracelets. I make them out of embroidery yarn. I like the patterns and the dynamics I can create with them. I like that I can make ones with meaning and ones without.

Katy Moir

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program? Why did you apply?
To expand on, and give value to, one of the most joyful things in my life.

What are you currently interested in creatively, other than dance?
Shifting expectations – facing people with values and behaviours they wouldn’t expect from the “hero” of a story.

Rachal Van Wyk

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program? Why did you apply?
To be part of a group that inspires me to create; let go and feel light.

What are you currently interested in creatively, other than dance?
I am interested in collaborative creative processes that give people new ways to explore uncomfortable topics. I really really love yoga too.

Kate Boston Smith

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program? 
All I want to do is dance and experience the world using my body in new ways. I love ageing and learning more about this radical vessel that carries my brain, my soul, my heart through the world.

What does Tracks mean to you at the moment?
Play, expression, community, new ideas for my performance, for my teaching. Passion, artistry, love, joy. Physical strength and growth.

Rajesh Pillai

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program? Why did you apply?
I always had an interest to learn about choreography. I have always dreamt of one performance which includes fusion of folk with free-form.

What are you currently interested in creatively, other than dance?
Well, I guess giving out small speeches with a strong message to make individuals realise their true existence in this world.

Dona Dilshani Omaya Padmaperuma

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program? Why did you apply?
I heard about Tracks when I moved to Darwin, I was eager to know about the amazing performance they do and I was a big fan of it. I had a dream to get into Tracks one day. And I put the application as soon as they opened the intake. Finally I was lucky enough to get in. 

What do you love about moving and dancing?
Dance / moving opened up many parts of myself that I never thought actually existed. It also takes me to places that I could never travel to in real life. It’s kind of a meditation sometimes. It helps me to balance my life when I am stressed about other things.

Cat Hart 

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program? Why did you apply?
I work in the theatre arts and am beginning to create more and more of my own works. I wanted to do the program so I could find more confidence to experiment with and focus on bringing more dance into my theatre work. I'm also aware as a dancer of how my body is changing as I age. Now in my mid-life years (and recovering from a dance injury) it was important to me to start to trust and challenge my body safely and to adapt to its changes and strengths. The program provides a safe space to explore both dance and it's relation with our body.  Lastly, simply because it's an amazing program working with a hugely diverse range of artists and creatives, being guided through so many amazing exercises and challenges. What's not to love!

Felicity Wardle

What attracted you to the Choreographic Program? Why did you apply?
I’m currently pregnant and wanted to explore my changing body, and engage in a creative process while in the creative process of pregnancy.

What are you currently interested in creatively, other than dance?
I love all forms of creativity and creative expression. Currently I am “working” on several fun projects promoting body positivity through visual art/crafts, and transforming eco-grief through dance with psychedelic-steampunk-insects.

Learn more about the Tracks Choreographic Program

Choreolab

The Choreographic Program culminates with 'Choreolab', an exciting weekend of public showings on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 May at Tracks Studio and surrounds.

Stay tuned! Subscribe to our e-newsletter to stay in the know with all things Tracks.

Tracks is very excited to be working again with Maddy Brown for our school holiday program Make A Dance In A Week With Maddy Brown (MADIAW).

Maddy is a highly qualified and experienced commercial dancer having danced throughout Australia and also in India in numerous Bollywood productions. She currently lives and works in Darwin as a choreographer, dancer, and dance instructor. We asked Maddy some questions about her life in Darwin, her dancing and MADIAW:
 

Tell us a little about yourself, are you from Darwin originally and what do you love most about living and dancing in the NT? 
I'm from Melbourne originally, and have lived in Darwin for over seven years now. I love that Darwin has so much to offer, in it's own diverse and unique way. I've had opportunities here that I wouldn't have had anywhere else, both in dance and lifestyle. 

You’ve danced all over the world and had some amazing experiences - what was your most memorable/influential dance moment? 
I danced in the opening ceremonies for the Indian Premier League in multiple cities across India, working with some of the best choreographers and directors. We also danced alongside the most famous Bollywood Singers/artists. Long rehearsals which often lasted over twelve hours a day with little sleep going from the airport, to tech. rehearsal, to makeup and SHOWTIME! 

You’ve been involved in youth programs with Tracks previously, what do you like best about the MADIAW program and what are you looking forward to the most? 
I enjoy seeing all the new faces that come into the program! I'm looking forward to seeing the progression in confidence and dance language over the week we will work together. 

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for the young dancers who will be participating in MADIAW, or just for young dancers in general? 
I always encourage young dancers to make connections and to continue to network. "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard" is a favourite quote of mine. Opportunities wont always appear for you, you've got to seek them - or make them! Your network of people is the foundation for this. 

What inspires you on your dance journey? 
I'm inspired by new projects, gigs and shows that allow me to get creative, as well as the new and upcoming dancers I get to work with in the process.

You’re super busy with dance all over Darwin right now, what else are you working on/involved in at the moment? 
I'm currently doing some regular dance gigs, as well as running some Heels Dance Masterclasses!  I have a lot of dance teaching work coming up with different organizations, and a trip to Sydney in between all of that, to learn from some of the best, and keep my creativity and skills up to teach the best I can here in Darwin! 
 

Registrations for Make A Dance In A Week With Maddy Brown are now open to students in grades 4-10

Register here

 

More about Maddy

Madeleine is a professional commercial dancer with a Diploma of Elite Dance from Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance in Melbourne. In 2017 Maddy spent six months in Mumbai with a prestigious Bollywood Dance Company dancing in shows, large scale-events events, music videos and movies, while working with India’s best Choreographers and Directors.

Maddy dance styles include Hip-hop, Commercial, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Ballroom, Bollywood, Belly dance and Musical TheatreThis was combined with her studies of vocal and acting.  Whilst in Melbourne, Madeleine performed at the Half-Time Show for the College Football at ANZ Stadium, showcased with Hollabak Dance Crew at the UDO competition, was Dance Captain for the TV show ‘The Big Music Quiz’ channel 7, and danced in two shows directed by Masters of Choreography. https://www.madeleinebrown.net/

 

Milpirri is a hand-in-hand celebration of old and new ways that happens every two year in the remote community of Lajamanu. The theme of each Milpirri performance is given to you by the Milpirri Creative Director - Wanta Jampijinpa Pawu-Kurlpurlurnu (Steve Jampijinpa Patrick).

What theme are you celebrating in 2021?

Yinapaka

Can you tell me a bit about this year’s theme?

Yinapaka is many things. Firstly, it is a place, it is a large body of freshwater in the Tanami Desert (European name is Lake Surprise). It dries out and creates a large flat area, that gets burnt off and becomes an important ceremonial site.

Secondly, Yin the Jukurrpa (Dreaming) it is a place where the birds come together to go through the Sky Ceremony. Thirdly, In language Yinapaka means to slap - it is interpreted as a wake up, wake up to yourself and what it is you need to learn.

The general theme tells us about birds who want to be the best hunters, like the eagle. They are looking for the right teacher.

It’s really worth reading the story of Yinapaka told in Steve Jampijinpa Patrick's own words.

You are heading down to Lajamanu in April for two weeks to prepare for the September performance. What sort of activities will you be doing while you are down there?

While in Lajamanu we have so many things to do. We are working with Marc Pekham and Rob Tremlett (Monkey and Mantra) to finalise the sound track by recording the lyrics with the school students, and the stories with community adults and Elders. This helps the students get a heads up about the themes before they start practicing the new dances, and they love hearing themselves in the produced tracks.

We will also be presenting the Milpirri themes to the school staff. There’s a high turnover in the non-Warlpiri teachers so we constantly reinforce, remind, and tell the value this project has.

There is always so much talk with Steve Wanta Jamijinpa Patrick (Creative Director) and his father, the main Elder of Lajamanu, Jerry Jangala Patrick. Milpirri is part of a five ceremony cycle and every conversation we have deepens our shared understanding of Warlpiri culture and values. It makes us acutely aware of how quickly things can change and the need for nimble adaptation.

This year Milpirri has to move its performance site, so we will be doing a lot of work around what needs to be put in place for September

We are also working through community organisations to get new understanding settled so that we fit in with national Indigenous Protocols

You’ve been producing Milpirri performances in Lajamanu since 2005 - what has this meant to you?

Milpirri since 2005 is a build for me on the 15 years in the community prior. So much activity in Communities is determined outside, but Milpirri came from Steve. It is fully about his culture, his people, their history and their future. Tim and I (and the rest of the Tracks team) have an important job of, under Steves watchful eye, translating the hard Warlpiri (Ceremonial activities that children are not aloud to see or do) into soft learning (public ceremony)  - creating material based on the values inherent in the ceremonies. This two way, hand in hand approach has allowed me (and Tim) to really find out how the two cultures can work together towards common goals. Both cultures have to be strong and clear. At times this is challenging because ceremonial practice determines so much of community life and Western performance can often ignore that.

What are the highlights of a Milpirri performance?

I love the start when people pay remembrance to those passed in the brushing of the banners (This is called Manyi Manyi). When we see all of the students in their Milpirri shirts sitting in their kinship groups, eagerly awaiting the start, showing such discipline that is rarely seen in the rest of their lives - this makes my heart sing. 

Watching the young men dance in dances many of them have never done before and seeing how they learn through doing. The women, when they dance well, are totally transformational, I can see them go to the country that they are dancing about. I also love that we are so remote and that these people are performing about and for themselves. Outsiders may be there, but they are totally creating this for themselves, community art at its finest.

Give me three words that describe your Milpirri experience?

Radical
Challenging
Transformational

 

We Won!

Congratulations to the 2018 cast of In Your Blood.

Last night in a virtual Award Ceremony we won an Australian Dance Award for this incredible show.

The show recognised for Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance was a sellout season in the 2018 Darwin Festival as well as being listed by Arts Hub as one of the top ten Australian performances of the year.

In Your Blood had a large local cast with 7 choreographers and 31 cast members and took an astonishing 2,700 hours of combined cast rehearsal time before playing to full houses at an open-air theatre created in the George Brown Botanic Garden. Set to a stunning original sound track by Darwin producer James Mangohig, the show was a uniquely Territorian cross-cultural and intergenerational dance work.

Tim Newth AM Tracks Artistic Co Director said ‘We are extremely honoured to receive this award.. it feels great to know that exceptional community dance is alive and well right across this country.”

The annual Australian Dance Awards are designed to recognise and honour professional Australian dance artists and to celebrate outstanding dance work in the sector.  The virtual Awards ceremony were held via Facebook and Instagram and covered two years of works (2018 and 2019).

While David McMicken AM Artistic Co Director added “Darwin is a long way from Australia’s metropolitan centers and that makes it even more potent when we win on the national stage. The diverse dance languages of In Your Blood were drawn from across generations, cultures and sporting codes. Thanks to the Tracks team, and also to Putu Desak Warti and Chandrika Munasinghe for bringing their artistry and communities into this production”

Congratulations to all nominees and winners from the National Dance Awards.

Tracks is currently developing the next major new work Seasons of Skin and Bark, which will premiere in August 2021.

Australian Research Council

This year the company received a prestigious Linkage Grant from the Australian Research Council. Through focusing on the Milpirri performance, we will look at the dance-making practices between Tracks and the Warlpiri artists of Lajamanu.

The grant is between Tracks and social anthropologist Associate Professor Jennifer Biddle from the University of New South Wales. The collaboration between Biddle and Tracks builds on relationships both have formed over three decades with the remote Warlpiri Aboriginal community of Lajamanu. Both partners have long term relationships with Lajamanu.

The research and community co-engagement will have multiple audiences - local, national and international - and create impact not just locally, but across sectors for all Australians.

Explore Further

Lajamanu / Milpirri Home Page

Publications, Presentations and Writings