Funded by the Australian Federation of Aids Organisations Bodies of Light was a look into a community’s response to the AIDS Pandemic. With much negative press around, and many people having died, it was important to link with organisations such as Corrugated iron Youth Theatre, AIDS organisations, Gay and Lesbian support services and the general community. This project was aimed at a specific community group (young gay men), which has difficulty in having their voice heard.

Bodies of Light comes from issues surrounding HIV and AIDS; how do we respond to this as a community? Young gay men have difficulty negotiating relationships in an environment that does little to support their choices.  Living in isolated, regional and rural conditions adds to this problem.  How do we learn to respect ourselves and love others?  Who are our role models?  How do we increase self-esteem and make safe and confident decisions?  Most of us by now have been affected by this virus; directly, through family, through friends.  It is the entire community’s responsibility to deal with these issues, to confront and combat the serious dilemmas these young people have to face.  Your attendance at this performance is a sign of your support and I sincerely thank you for this.  I also give my heart felt thanks to the team of artists, performers, technicians and volunteers who have given their time and ideas so generously.  I am truly blessed by the support of my community. Together we will see this pandemic through. – David McMicken

A message from Jan Holt, Education Officer, Northern Territory AIDS Council Inc
Living in a World with AIDS has challenged greatly the lives of gay men.  We have changed our sexual behaviours, we have come out, we have educated each other and we have cared for our brothers and sisters who have been affected by this illness.  We have accomplished much in our lives.
Many of those accomplishments have been achieved because we know that we are not alone on our journey, many are sharing that same journey.  It is our right to choose who we love and who we share our intimacy with and to construct our lives in a way that is comfortable and fulfilling for us.
The AIDS Crisis is not over, even though we wish it were.  There is no place for complacency.  Transmission prevention is a shared responsibility.

Director, Choreographer

David McMicken

Music

David Pratt (Space Ace)

Design

Tim Newth

Darwin Dance Mob: Liz Pearse, Daniel Cunningham, Sara Scrutton, Sarah McAlpine, Gordon Roberts, Margot Ford, Lucy Murrell, Shane Riley, Stephanie Simms, Moira Stronach, Catherine Gault, Matthew Applewhite, Gary Lang
Podium Dancers: Karen Challenger, David McMicken

The Grey Panthers: Audrey Svara, Hanna Stamm, Greta Quong, Glad Morris, Audrey Gorring, Adi Bruce, Kay Brown, Kath Baldwin, Del Cooke, Jo Davis, Jan Everingham, Mavis Waddell, & Mary Ehn

Men: Stephen Carleton, Daniel Cunningham, Gary Lang, David McMicken, Tim Newth, Peter Sparkman (Sparkie), Michael Thomas, David Taylor, Justin Pradier, Stewart Edwards, Shane Riley & Matthew Applewhite

The Blood Stream:
Audience enters the performance space; a virus entering the blood stream.  We will all be changed by this. Music: Space Ace

Candles:
The candle-light vigil is a well known AIDS Memorial activity.  We keep a light burning for those who have been taken from us, we will never forget.
Music: Space Ace. Performers: Darwin Dance Mob

Quilts:
Squares of fabric hold cherished memories.  The dancers perform sequences representing positive aspects of themselves. A living memorial.
Music: Space Ace. Performers: Darwin Dance Mob, Podium Dancers

Old Bury The Young:
Support for young adults often comes from their grandparents generation, rather than parents.  These women are wise and accepting. Love and loss are not new to them.
Music: Milk: Rabbit in the Moon. Performers: The Grey Panthers, Men

The Kiss:
The tenderness of touch, of love.  We are strong in our relationships.
Music: Number Three (Gymnopodie): E. Satie
Choreography: Gary Lang. Performers: Gary Lang, David McMicken

Why:
Our own voices will be heard.  We have the right to express our own sense of identity and culture.  Our confidence in our own sense of self and belonging gives us the strength to negotiate our way in this world
Music: Why sung by Randy Crawford.  Additional sound: Liberty Lee, Space Ace
Performers: Liberty Lee, Gary Lang, David McMicken

Bodies of Light:
We must feed our own light and allow it to show; only when we are confident in our own sense of self and belonging can we have the strength to negotiate our way in this world. Music: Space Ace, Performers: Men