2024 Company News and Program Updates
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We're going through changes...
We wish to take a moment to celebrate two remarkable artists who have made the decision to move on from their roles at Tracks soon. Jess and Spillett, we are infinitely grateful for your commitment to joy and creativity that has infused Tracks with a rhythm and vitality that will resonate long after you go.
Tracks staff and Board thanks and acknowledges Jess and Spillett for their enormous creative contribution to the company, and wish them all the best for their future adventures.
From Jess:
"My love for Tracks and Darwin runs deep. After 12 years with the company, I'm filled with gratitude. November 22 marks my final day as Associate Artistic Director. It's been fun! I'll miss the close-knit relationships with the Tracks team, as well as collaborating with the dedicated dancers, makers and volunteers. Tracks is more than just a company; it’s a family. The people give it soul. I believe it genuinely fosters a unique space in the NT for artistry, personal growth and celebrating our interconnectedness. Our core values of People, Place, Spirit deeply resonate with me and have circled around my heart. Living and working in the tropics on beautiful Larrakia land has been an immense privilege and enriching journey. To lead a creative life and practice playfulness here— with the guidance of my mentors Tim Newth and David McMicken has shown me the essence of generous collaboration. My long-term collaborator Kelly Beneforti has been my rock (and muse!) at the company. Lajamanu taught me the importance of slow, considered processes. To truly listen. I also wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge Britt Guy’s contribution to Tracks and her ongoing belief in me as a young artist from the get-go, and I thank her for encouraging me to make Cloud Split. For some time, I’ve been flirting with movement directing for theatre, reciprocal mentoring and returning to my first-love of facilitating workshops. I’m interested to pursue these avenues further afield, whilst always remaining in an open relationship with Darwin. Change is good and the future is bright at Tracks. We've been simmering some exciting plans for the artistic vision and future team and we can’t wait to share those updates. I look forward to watching the company continue to thrive as a place for fiercely local original performance, choreographic development, and participatory action in the Territory! I’d encourage everyone to get involved at Tracks for the enriching conversations and the ongoing opportunities to come and move your body. Dancing is a beautiful testament and investment to our aliveness.” – J Devereux
A love letter from Spillett:
"Where do I even begin? I could go on forever on how my time at Tracks truly shaped me as a person since returning back home to Darwin and I will never be able to find the right words. It’s never really a goodbye or “the end of an era”. My relationship with this company goes back to little 15yo Spillett and in true Darwin fashion it has ebbed and flowed throughout the years. But during these last three years I have had the opportunity to be on staff; I have achieved and experienced all the things I could’ve hoped for and never thought I would. It has been nothing short of wholesome. It’s more than just dancing for me, it’s the people I have been blessed to come across and work with, the places I’ve been, the smiles of all the young people, being looked after by all the Grey Panthers and giving back to the community. I can’t express enough the amount of love, support and nurturing I have received both as an artist but also as a human being. I cannot thank Tracks enough; I love you Macky D, J Devs, Kels, Duane Duane and Jampijinpa. Tracks will always be family. Much love, Spillett."
Cushion Concert for Tim Newth's retirement celebration.
“True happiness is something that you don’t have by yourself, you have true happiness when it’s radiating from the people all around you.” - Tim Newth, thank you for these words during your Cushion Concert as we celebrated your 35 years working at Tracks. It was our pleasure to have successfully kept this one a secret right down to the last moment as you walked in the studio. Here are some pics from the wonderful time we had reflecting on all the joy that has come with your presence in our lives through community and movement. Huge thanks to everyone that was able to join us and to those who contributed words and thoughts from afar to make sure we sent him off right.
Read people's testimonial wishes for Tim that we made into a book.
Read within the Tracks March Newsletter Tim's farewell statement and an exclusive interview with Richard Watts as they delve into his remarkable 35-year journey at Tracks Dance as Co-Artistic Director.
Impro Club
Tracks says ‘no’ to trying to control the chaos, and ‘yes’ to developing fluid ways of interacting with it. We have invested many years in developing and offering improvisatory workshops for multiple dancers across many artistic disciplines, through choreographic development work and performance practice. This year we will be running several series of workshops, aimed at people with some improvisational practice already.
Impro Club is a series of regular gatherings satisfying the community's desire to extend and maintain their movement practice. This offering includes the popular Lushdance Intensives - a full day of studio time for improvisation, writing, drawing, and sharing food.
Program Co Leaders: Jess Devereux and Kelly Beneforti
16/02/2024
A Picnic for Dancers
Join us for a delightful picnic for dancers as we celebrate International Dance Day! Bring along your loved ones, a cozy rug, and your favourite snacks for an afternoon filled with joy by the sea.
This is a free family friendly event that will be held at Sunset Park in Nightcliff on Sunday 28th April from 5pm - 7pm.
Photos
Staff Change
Huge shout out to Debbie, our amazing Administrator since 2022! Debbie has recently wrapped up her time here at Tracks Dance Company to move into the event management space with Agentur. We wish her the very best and look forward to seeing her around no doubt.
Thank you Debbie for sharing your magic with our team and always ensuring a smooth slay in the admin grind. Debbie’s brilliant contributions will always be remembered: juggling meetings, website management, filing, marketing, all while fielding phones, emails and wrangling our wonderful Grey Panthers into class!
So who will fill the void you may be wondering? Introducing… Jocelyn Tribe, the newest addition to the Tracks Dance Team. A big warm welcome Jocelyn! We are really looking forward to seeing the dynamics of our team grow as she slides into the Administrator role with the grace of a seasoned arts worker and artist. Back in the day when Tracks first moved to Harbour View Plaza Jocelyn was in the role of Anchor Tenant for our old Frog Hollow location. Jocelyn's fusion of artistry and administrative acumen is about to spark some serious fireworks in our collective creative journey. If you are curious to have a further lurk about Jocelyn, you can read more about her here.