Level 6, West Lane Carpark, Darwin City

Sunday April 29, 2018 
International Dance Day

In true Tracks Dance Company style the venue for the performance was unusual but distinctly local in tone. Located on the 6th floor of West Lane car park in Darwin City, with great views over the harbour and a cross breeze that kept the participants cool. Big Dance welcomes participants of all ages and abilities to unite our community in the belief that “everyone can dance”.

Since 2006 every Big Dance has commissioned a renowned dancer to create a unique piece of choreography to share with the world. What made 2018 special is for the first time the opportunity had been given to an Australian. Acclaimed Indigenous choreographer Frances Rings, who has danced with and created work for Bangarra Dance Theatre and New Zealand born, Craig Bary. Together they developed this Big Dance piece which is distinctly Australian.

This year Tracks placed particular importance in making this Big Dance a film based project. Working with local company Dreamedia Creative to produce this film, coming soon.

About Big Dance

Big Dance began in the UK in 2006. Since its inception it has spread internationally to cities and towns around the world, involving entire global communities, encouraging fun through dance. For every Big Dance event, an internationally renowned choreographer is chosen to create a 5-minute dance that has the versatility for the widest possible assortment of dancers, of all skill levels, to join in. The choreography is taught to dance teachers who then go on to teach the dance to as many people as possible in their community. It goes viral and rapidly evolves into the largest celebration of dance in the world. 

Big Dance is the largest free dance celebration in the world and in 2018 Australia did so on International Dance Day, April 29. To see how the rest of Australia celebrated Big Dance, go to the Big Dance website.

Participate

People were invited to learn the dance from the Big Dance online tutorials.

They could then attend free Big Dance workshops with Tracks Dance. Public workshops to learn Big Dance took place throughout April, on Wednesday 18 & 25 and Thursday 19 & 26 - 5:30 - 7pm at the Live Darwin Hub (our pop-up studio) in the Smith Street Mall, with a Dress Rehearsal on Saturday April 28 for all participants on site.

Performers

Alanah Hardy, Antonietta Vanzella, Armadi Ni Nyoman, Bryn Wackett, Codie Abley, Darryl Butler, David McMicken, Drew Holloway, Ellen Hankin, Eunice de Ramos, Filomena De Castro, Fiona Fergusson, Francisca Kleinebeck, Helen Haritos, Jacinta Knight, Janine Sutter, Jenni Sanderson, Jenelle Saunders, Jessica Rabelo Amaral, Jo Parish, Jordan Bretherton, Kate Dyer, Kathie Rea, Kelly Beneforti, Kerry Gardiner, Lesley Piper, Linda Weatherhead, Madeleine Brown, Marg Lee, Marge Duminski, Maria Panatos, Maria Vlastuin, MaryAnn Hinton, Mayan Cupidon, Mike Christie, Nicole MacDonald, Patricia O'Neill, Perrine Orlandini, Rosa Norman, Roslyn Henry, Sam Stevenson, Sara Clarke, Seena Devi, Sharron McAndly, Sheila Rose, Takira Stapleton, Taylah Anderson, Thevi Chelliah, Toni Vine Bromley, Trish Greenfield, Vanda Gaal, Will Crawford.

Creative Personnel

Choreography: Frances Rings, Craig Bary
Music Composition: Huey Benjamin

Project Staff

Team Leader: David McMicken
Dance Leaders: Kelly Beneforti, Bryn Wackett, Jenelle Saunders, Madeleine Brown and Jordan Bretherton
Production Staff: Duane Preston, Carlo Maur and Jo Edwards
Film Documentation: Dreamedia Creative

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.

Project Partners

Proudly sponsored by Jacana Energy, the Northern Territory Government and Live Darwin

Supporting Partners

City of Darwin, Ausdance NSW and Big Dance

Thank you

The Grey Panthers, Casuarina Senior College, Darwin High School and our generous volunteers David Taylor and Glenn Bernadin.

Tracks 2018

Artistic Co-Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
Company Director: Adelaide Wood
Administrator: Jessica Mellor
Production Manager: Duane Preston
Dance Animateur: Kelly Beneforti
Bookkeeper: It Figures

Committee Members: Mary Durack (Chairperson), Glenn Bernardin (Treasurer), Michael Grant, David Taylor, Ken Conway, Venaska Cheliah, Sudha Coutinho, Mandela Yu. David McMicken, Tim Newth, Adelaide Wood (Ex-Officio Members)

Public Fund Trustees: Rev. Steve Orme, Dr Anita Toth, Ippei Okazaki

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