Tracks Dance Studio, Harbour View Plaza, Darwin

Oct 2019 - Mar 2020

About the Residency Program 

A Space Time Studio Residency provides you with access to open development time in a studio space, and mentorship from the Tracks staff. The focus is on choreographic research and reflection and culminates in a public showing and forum to present and discuss the residents' findings.

This is a free program supporting Darwin’s independent dance scene. Artists and practitioners of all dance styles are encouraged to apply, including culturally specific dance forms. This program was developed in response to the limited opportunities for the development of contemporary dance and choreographic practice in the NT. Our Space Time Residency usually runs during our quieter times, maximising studio usage for the benefit of our wider dance community.

2019/2020 Residency Program

Despite a rapidly changing situation around the COVID-19 health crisis, we were still able to come together with our Studio Residents for a sharing of their ideas and physical explorations to conclude the residency program for the 2019-2020 wet season. It felt particularly important to recognise the importance of artistic expression in light of world events and to acknowledge the commitment to creative practice that the residents had demonstrated throughout their time in our studio. Read below to see what our residents were exploring.

2019/2020 Residents

Kyle Walmsley

"I'll be using the residency time to develop, experiment and devise towards a new dance work in 2020. The residency will help me explore processes and forms of live streaming of dance performances via social media. I will livestream some outcomes throughout the residency and these live streams and the commentary around them will inform the final work.

I've had two dance performance works previously live streamed (Chicago in my one bedroom unit - Albury Wodonga, 2018 and Cats in Mantra Apartments - Darwin, 2018) with a collective thousands of views, and positive feedback."

Mim Ellen-Barwell

"I would like to explore more creative movements following on from my time in the Choreographic Program. I would also like to choreograph a very structured dance on a dancer, as in the program we choreographed a lot of improvisation and less structure.

I am not entirely sure what I would like to explore yet, and I think more formulated ideas would come as I dance in the space. I do know I will create a dance, whatever it is, and that it will be reflective of my time in the Territory in some way."

Tara Schmidt, Jenelle Saunders and Kate Mornane

"The intention of the residency is to collaborate with local choreographers/dancers, Jenelle Saunders and Kate Mornane. For our trio to have time and space to explore the following collated collection of ideas, styles and choreography prompts; Authentic Movement, Contact Improvisation, Body awareness/stabilisation skills, and Tactile and large movement.

This adventure will further support and develop our trio’s creativity, confidence and calm."

Darryl Butler

"This residency was about exploring and encouraging the development of a choreographic voice in contemporary dance for people over the age of sixty. The residency involved the running of eleven two-hour workshops. Eleven people expressed interest in the workshops and five people continued with the workshops collaborating in the choreographing of a dance. This raw dance will be performed by the workshop participants at the showing. The dance piece uses the stimulus of a Top End thunderstorm to generate choreographic ideas.

Possible other outputs from this residency include the generation of ideas for further choreographic projects. Participants who are inspired in some way to pursue their own exploration of dance for older bodies. Video of work done."

Company Partners

Tracks Inc. is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body; and is proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government.

Tracks 2020

Artistic Co-Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
Company Director: Adelaide Wood
Administrator: Jessica Mellor / Jo Shearn
Production Manager: Duane Preston
Dance Animateurs: Kelly Beneforti and Jess Devereux
Bookkeeper: It Figures

Committee Members: David Taylor (Chairperson), Glenn Bernardin (Treasurer), Michael Grant, Ken Conway, Venaska Cheliah, Max Dewa Stretton. David McMicken, Tim Newth, Adelaide Wood (Ex-Officio Members)

Public Fund Trustees: Maari Gray, Will Crawford and Lachlan Peattie

Patron: Her Honour the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran AM, Administrator of the Northern Territory