The future of now and yesterday

By Jacklyn Yeong

Chunky Move invites audiences to become immersed in the surrealist worlds of two distinctive pieces presented through contemporary dance.

Its latest project Next Move 11 is an investigation into the self, memory and imagination of acclaimed dancers and emerging choreographers Lauren Langlois and Joel Bray.

Lauren Langlois’s commissioned work Nether performed with James Vu Anh Pham is an exploration into the collision of “meta-human” memory and technological obsessions.

Similar to the concept of being “superhuman”, both Lauren and James will be discovering how being a “meta-human” draw affects the physicality and internal states of the human body in their work.

Audiences will be prompted by the question “What happens to the body when you give it too much information?”

For Joel Bray, his new work Dharawungara in Next Move 11 will be a re-imagination of the ceremonial grounds of his Wiradjuri rite by incorporating light and sound with dance.

Joel explained that he drew inspiration from the traditional ceremonial practice of his roots.

“The inspiration for this work is an article I read by an anthropologist who observed a Burbang – a men’s initiation rite – in 1893,” Joel said. “It occurred at a place called Quambone in western NSW, where my great-great-grandfather lived, so I got excited by this idea that my great-great grandfather might have been a part of this ceremony.”

Working alongside composer Naretha Williams, who is also Wiradjuri, the choreography is a documentation of Joel’s personal struggles on learning about the culture that was stolen from him.

“The process has been incredibly educational as I learn more about my culture,” Joel said. “It has felt really empowering as I stand up and declare myself a proud Wiradjuri man and it’s been fun.”

As someone who personally understood the importance of rediscovering lost ritual inheritance, Joel wanted his audience to realise how much rituals of all kinds bind us as a community.

“Rites are important to us as humans,” said Joel. “How we make a cup of tea, or pour ourselves a bath, or congregate every Sunday for brunch with friends are all sorts of ritual. I’d love for my audience to walk out pondering how they can strengthen the community around them through ritual.”

Dharawungara will be performed with Joel’s signature quirkiness and self-deprecating humour interlaced through the seriousness of the theme.

However, breathing life into this Wiradjuri rite that he has only read about had been an incredibly challenging journey for Joel and his team as indigenous artists because they face a double challenge when it comes to balancing both traditional culture and contemporary dance.

“It’s been tough sometimes, as I’ve faced the reality that I’ve had this ritual – my birth right – stolen from me,” he said. “It’s also felt like an awesome responsibility.”

“We have to make work that not only engages contemporary audiences, but we also have to keep a careful eye on the cultural protocols and our obligations to our ancestors, our elders and our culture,” he continued. “And that can be a tricky tightrope to walk.”

Next Move 11 will be presented from November 9-17 at Chunky Move Studios. Tickets are available now on www.chunkymove.com