Darwin Civic Gardens, Darwin City

 June 4 & 5, 1993

Gathering Ground was designed as an adjunct project to Open House. Open House,  aimed to allow people to present short works and works in progress in order to ”test the water” in front of an audience. Gathering Ground aimed to work with the groups further to realise the greater potential of their initial explorations. It also aimed to present some of Darwin’s other established dance groups such as guest artists Juniper Tree Dance Company, and Darwin Juke Box Rock.

Director's Notes - Sarah Calver

Welcome to Gathering Ground, a creative and dynamic dance performance which weaves together the impressive talents and energies of Darwin’s local people. The performers will take you on a journey of discovery outdoors through to a disciplined wildness in the theatre, ending in the calmness of the night where the foot stepping of others will entice you to join in.

Creative Personnel

Coordinator: Sarah Calver
Choreographers: Sarah Calver, David McMicken, Berenice Franklin, Sandy Stewart, Lisa Campbell, Joanna Noonan and Julia Quinn
Lighting design and technician: Matthew James

Lighting Technician: James Forrest
Sound Operators: David McMicken and Maggi Phillips
Photographer: Lizard

Scenario

Hello, How Are You & What’s Your Name
An improvised journey, which is at times strange and at others familiar. A path along which you can meet the dancers, a moment of improvisation.

Yes Lets
Performers: Darwin Dance Mob, Kids Group
Choreography: Sarah Calver and group
Music: Kolo Kolo Kolo – Bobby McFerrin

I’m In The Toy Box
Performers: Corrugated Iron Youth Theatre
Choreography: Sarah Calver and group
Story: Rachael Lillybridge
Music: You Don’t Treat Me No Good, Sonia Dada

A Glimpse of Chaos
Performers: Local Troupe
Choreography: David McMicken
Music: Mouth Music, Peter Gabriel

Just Friends
Performers: Darwin Dance Mob, Grey Panthers
Choreography: Sarah Calver
Music: Half as Much, Rosemary Clooney

Hip Hop Hooray
Performers: Corrugated Iron Youth Arts Artability Group
Choreography: group
Music: Bobby Brown

Look Inside
Performers: Dance Mob, Adults Group
Choreography: Sarah Calver, David McMicken and group
Music: Drumming, Steve Reich

Thru Moves
Performers: Dance Mob, Grey Panthers
Choreography: Adapted from traditional by Sarah Calver
Music: Traditional Israeli Folk

Another Glimpse of Chaos
Performers: Local Troupe
Choreography: David McMicken
Music: Deep Forest

As I Am
Choreography and Direction: Sarah Calver
Additional Choreography: Sandy Stewart, Berenice Franklin, Lisa Campbell
Performers: Linda Bonson, Sarah Calver, Lisa Campbell, Berenice Franklin, Helen Haritos, Sandy Stewart.
Music/text: Sarah Calver, Not Drowning Waving, Joe Jackson, Hatziporum, Tiddas, Stephen de Souza, K D Lang, Ben Mink, 2 Unlimited, Jackson Brown Junior, Jean Michael Jarre, Jim Morrison, Kate Bush.
The inspiration for As I Am emerged from Different from Every Angle, a dance work I created in 1992 about people and how we are who we are. Different From Every Angle combined modern dance with sign language, gestures, and poetry. In 1993 I decided to explore this integration further, developing a dance work, which looks at the songlines six women have traveled.
Section 1. My Silence: My silence is not a wall to keep others out but merely a part of me
Section 2. Traveling songline: A road takes me up, down, round about, and then into new untrodden ground
Section 3. It’s All Too Much: Some days I can’t get started, wondering which shoe to put on first
Section 4. Quack: Choreography by Sandy Stewart, danced by Berenice Franklin and Stephen de Souza
Section 5. Come Into My Kitchen
Section 6. As I Am: Can you accept me as I am, with all my rotten ways, the days I’m gentle as a lamb, or in a filthy rage? – Margaret Brushnahan
Section 7. Pullin’ Back The Reins: Choreography and performance by Berenice Franklin. We can run together, and we must in order to remain
Section 8. There’s No Turning Back
Section 9. Slip of the Tongue: Phrase we remember our mums saying combined with excerpts from P.S. I Love You by H. Jackson Brown Junior
Section 10. The Crystal Ship: Choreography and performance by Lisa Campbell
Section 11. Symbols of Life
Section 12. Ostamanyana: Choreography, text and performance by Sandy Stewart
Section 13. This Women’s Work: Give me the moments back …

Juniper Tree Dance Company

Some Places … Feathers and Good Thoughts
Excerpts from The Company of Lovers (April 1993)
Directed by Joanna Noonan and Julia Quinn
Choreography: Joanna Noonan and Julia Quinn
Costumes: Joanna Noonan, Julia Quinn and Lilian Vita
Guest Performers: John Azarcon, Anne Cooper, Korin Gibson, Peta Goed, Jean Gove, Julia Gray, Jody Greenoff, Rachel Hewer, Julie Horn, Elishia Hountalas, Nicola Merritt, Lisa Nicholson, Juliette McCleod, Ben Pinkerton, Anna Marie Rooding, Jeff Standen
“Happy and gay and blithe were we, the night we danced under the Juniper Tree, the Juniper Tree my darling, the Juniper Tree my darling. (American Folkloric song.)
Julia and Joanna founded Juniper Tree in 1992 because they wanted to expose the talent that there is in Darwin. With three seasons under their belt, the Juniper Tree Dance Company looks forward to many more collaborative events like this in the future. Some people find it difficult to express how they feel verbally, for us, movement is our voice, this is our way of being heard. Listen … we’re talking to you …
Julia and Joanna wish to thank the dancers for their contribution to the artistic process. Without their passion, focus and commitment these works would not be possible. There is something for everyone in all genres of art. What did you see?

Alone - 1993
Choreography: Joanna Noonan
Sound: Des Orages Pour La Nuit – Gabriel Yared
Performers: John Azarcon, Lisa Nicholson, Peta Goed, Joanna Noonan, Julie Horn, Ben Pinkerton, Jeff Sanden

Taste My Tapestry – 1992
Choreography and performance: Joanna Noonan, Julia Quinn
Sound: Sea of Love – Trevor Jones

Pandemos – 1992
Choreography: Joanna Noonan
Sound: The Day You Went Away – Wendy Matthews
Performers: A. Cooper, Peta Goed, Julia Gray, Nicole Merritt, Julia Quinn, Anna Marie Rooding
Age cannot wither her nor custom stale her infinite variety – William Shakespeare

Passion – 1993
Choreography: Julia Quinn
Sound: Avenue – Nustat Faten Alikhan
Performers: John Azarcon, Julie Horn, Lisa Nicholson, Ben Pinkerton, Ann Marie Rooding, Jeff Sanden
The force of my love would carry me to the ends of the earth – Revelations: Diaries of Women.

The Earth Laughs in Flowers – 1993
Choreography: Joanna Noonan
Sound: I Am What I Am – Anthony Warlow, Messiah – Handel, Merryn Warren
Performers: Anne Cooper, Korin Gibson, Peta Goed, Jean Gove, Julie Horn, Joanna Noonan, Ben Pinkerton, Julia Quinn, Anna Marie Rooding

Speedy Reply – 1993
Choreography: Joanna Noonan
Sound: Sea of Love – Trevor Jones
Performers: Casuarina Secondary College year 11 & 12 dancers.

Celebration – 1993
Choreography: Joanna Noonan
Sound: Penny Whistle Song – The Power of One
Choreography: Nicole Merritt, Joanna Noonan, Julia Quinn
Sound: White Men Can’t Jump – Riff
“We meet and part now over all the world”  - Judith Wright

Experimenting, I Hung The Moon On Various Branches Of The Pine
(Throughout the performance we link the sections with thoughts from company members)
Arranged by: Juliette McCleod, Liliah Vita
Performed by: Juliette McLeod, Julia Gray, Jody Greenhoff

Shake Rattle and Roll - With The Darwin Juke Box Rock
Why not join in for a great session of Rock and Roll

1993

Brown’s Mart Community Arts Dance Development Offices: Sarah Calver, David McMicken

[Under Brown's Mart Community Arts – Executive Officer Ken Conway]