Civic Park, Darwin City

Sunday 14 July, 2019
Darwin Fringe Festival

Big Mobs of Dancers

This project saw our Participation Programme go into hyper-drive. The choreography was created to cater for the maximum number of people with a diverse set of abilities. We set our sights on 100 participants and En Masse allowed friends and families, parents and kids, work mates and anyone else to come together in a 7 minute dance romp.

Firstly trialled on our Grey Panthers, we performed a smaller version at the 2019 Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival and the COTA NT Seniors Expo as a call out for more participants. The much anticipated performance saw 101 dancers perform to an audience of over 200 people in Darwin's Civic Park. A sunset community spectacular, En Masse was a highlight of the closing night of the 2019 Darwin Fringe Festival.

Full of Joy and Laughter

The rehearsals were full of joy and laughter, as participants took to the theme with a vengeance. Workshop coordinator Bryn Wackett, organised 17 workshops to teach the choreography, including 4 general public weekend rehearsals in the month leading up, one masse group practice and of course the performance.

Workshop Groups included: The Grey Panthers (60+ dance troupe), Milkwood Steiner School, Nightcliff Middle School, Darwin Middle School, Arts organisations housed at Harbour View Plaza, CemeNT Stars, Darwin Community Arts, Vietflame and the General Public.

Cheeky Tourist Theme

The choreography took a cheeky look at our dry season tourists, who come with various amounts of enthusiasm, often a little unprepared for the tropics:

Arriving full of energy, the tourists follow their tour guides around the city. This does not take long...

Listening to tourist information and warnings, they quickly realise that many things seem to be out to get you.

Forgetting to drink water they succumb to dehydration and the Tour guides spray water over the 'zombie-like' tourists.

Feeling revived, the tourists enjoy the cooler Darwin evenings and fun activities. However, the eerie sound of the Curlew at night frightens them away and they return to their double decker buses and cruise ships.

Creative Team

Choreography: David McMicken and Kelly Beneforti
Music Composition: James Mangohig (features the vocals of Ranger Stacey)
Dance Leaders: David McMicken, Bryn Wackett, Kelly Beneforti, Jess Devereux and Madeleine Brown
Workshop Coordinator: Bryn Wackett
Video Resources filming and editing: Duane Preston
Film Documentation: Dreamedia Creative

Performers

Adelaide Wood, Alex McInnes, Ang O'Donnell, Annmarie McLeod, Antionetta Vanzella, Belinda Quinlivian, Bridie Maguire, Bryn Wackett, Carolyn Clark, Cassandra Wallace, Cassie Dimos, Coral-Lee Nelson, Darryl Butler, David McMicken, Dayanara Rosal, Dee-Ann Vahlberg, Di Koser, Donna Woods, El Ibo, Ellen Hankin, Eloy Mason, Emma Fitzsimons, Eve Palwik, Gail Gordon, Georga Cross, Hari Baskota, Harry Abrahams, Harry Nguyen, Helen De Silva, Henry Parham, Igen Mason, Janet Farnell, Janet Phillips, Janine Sims, Janine Sutter, Jay Hadley, Jeff Coulter, Jenni Sanderson, Jess Devereux, Jessica Mellor, Jocelyn Tribe, Johnson Ashley, Joseph McGee, Kass Yates, Katya Dimos, Kelly Beneforti, Kim Rogers, Kim Yates, Kiyan Jash, Lorina Trayte, Maari Gray, Madeleine Brown, Marg Dorman, Marg Lee, Margaret Montiero, Marge Duminski, Marilynne N Kirshbaum, Mark Lee, MaryAnn Hinton, Mayan Cupidon, Megan Bateman, Mim Ellen-Barwell, Neil Harvey, Nikki Charlesworth-Canning, Nirali Patel, Omri Mason, Pat O'Neil, Penny Phillips, Perrine Orlandini, Sally Hodgson, Saskia Strange, Sharon McKenzie, Sonny Yates, Sudha Coutinho, Susan Pattiselanno, Tania McLeod, Toni Vine-Bromley, Tristan McCallum, Uxel Mason, Val Hristova, Will Crawford and Vietflames; David, Fiona, Harry, Jane & Katy, Tina Kievit, Ursula Lyons, Veronica Priestley

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

Jacana Energy and Darwin International Airport

Supporting Partners

Darwin Fringe Festival

Tracks 2019

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

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

Public Fund Trustees: Dr Anita Toth

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