Associate Artistic Director: JESSICA DEVEREUX
Involved in the creation and direction of performances, collaboration, facilitating participation, programming, mentoring, dance and choreographic skill development.
Jess is a passionate artist, choreographer, performer and facilitator of dance. Known for her warmth and skill in working collaboratively, Jess nimbly traverses between small-scale, intimate creative processes to large-scale, community and participatory works. She is drawn to projects that are joyous, so she was drawn to Tracks. Jess trained at Victorian College of the Arts. She visited Darwin on secondment in 2008 to observe the making of 'Lipstick & Ochre' and soon after, moved north to take up the role of Dance Animateur.
Jess led Tracks' pilot Choreographic Program in 2009, and over many subsequent years facilitated people to develop their dance practice and choreographic skill. Jess was a key collaborator on all of Tracks’ major performance seasons 2009 -2014 and 2019-2024. She led experimental dance film projects, taught workshops in schools, and created commissioned performances. Jess worked on 5 Milpirri's over a period of a decade in remote Warlpiri community Lajamanu, cementing her commitment to slow considered, relational practice.
Jess has also maintained an independent practice as a performer and collaborator living in Naarm (Melbourne) and Garramilla (Darwin). In '17, in Gurambilbarra (Townsville) Jess was Community Enrichment Coordinator at Dancenorth, and then Dance Leader on two of Melbourne’s Moomba Parades '19 and '20. She has developed work with Stompin, Rob McCredie, Mischa Baka and Zoe Scoglio, was rehearsal director for Gary Lang (Mokuy '14) and performed with Madeleine Flynn & Tim Humphrey's Megaphone Project in South Korea ‘16.
Jess choreographed and performed solo ‘Silver Sky’ at Darwin Festival ‘12 and trio ‘Beautiful Noise’ at Darwin Festival ’16, a music and dance collaboration with Kris Keogh and a team of dancers from all around the country. Jess participated in a transitroy dance exchange to Eastern Europe (Dance Satellite, produced by Britt Guy '14) and more recently, choreographed 'The Hypotheticals' by Sarah Reuben & Jeffry Jay Fowler premiering at Darwin Festival '21, and provided Outside Eye for James Mangohig's 'Hymns for the Witching Hour' '23.
Jess has contributed to artist and peer panels for National Dance Forum, Australia Council for the Arts, Next Wave’s Curatorial Advisory, and co-curator on Dance Speaks, and has taken up Artist Residencies at Fling Physical Theatre NSW, P-AF France, Territory Wildlife Park NT, Mosaico Italy, Tasdance TAS and Heritage Hill VIC. Alongside Venaska Cheliah, Jess co-developed a long form creative process of friendship, dancing and music with 'Mess of a Mudrā.' She has been an active member of 'Sweat Collective' experimental artists group led by Britt Guy / Creative Accomplice in Darwin.
Jess was Associate Artistic Director at Tracks 2022 - 2024.
"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 is 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. Change is good and the future is bright at Tracks. We've been simmering some exciting plans for the artistic vision and future team. 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.” JDevereux
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