Landed
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Gurambai Walking Trail - Woodland Loop, Marrara, Darwin
July 31 (Preview), August 5 - 7 & 12 - 14, 2016
Darwin Festival
“We ask that you tread softly on mother earth while you are here.”
Bilawara Lee - Larrakia Elder
Landed explores sources of wisdom, through the experiences of three different characters arriving back home in Darwin after being away for some time.
Set in the dry Marrara Swamp at the source of Rapid Creek, the audience experience the journey as they are guided around the Gurambai walking trail. Landed is a full-length dance work embedded in the local landscape.
Watch the full performance of Landed
Take a look behind the scenes of our photo shoot for Landed.
Directors Notes
Over the past few years there has been a great deal of insecurity in the arts and cultural sector. As makers of local dance performances we found ourselves asking “where do we look for wisdom in times like this?” In this time of rich and consuming information, how can we turn this into real knowledge, and how do we find the time and place to let this knowledge evolve into true wisdom?
Living in this distinctive part of Australia we are constantly affected by the vastness of our landscape, the extremes of our weather, the fullness of the cultural diversity found here, and our links to our Indigenous people and knowledge. We often look to parallels as found in nature, such as: nurturing the fragility of local plants and animals, being sensitive to slight changes, absorbing the ‘oldness’ of the land, giving in to the weather.
Darwin has a way of forcing you to let go. The idea of being open to listening to this land seemed a relevant and important part of understanding who we are as interconnected people living here.
In the performance of Landed, we follow three different characters, all of whom grew up in Darwin, left to seek greener fields, and are drawn back to this place. They have to re-adjust to the extremes here, and doing so take another step on their pathway to knowing. One travels from a place of reading books, to learning to read her environment. One transforms his high flying big city activism and energy, to being reminded by his country of the power in his grounded self. The third character finds her well-travelled and confident self submerged into a world that confronts her excess until she finds a way to float freely.
Set in the dry Marrara Swamp at the source of Rapid Creek, the audience experience the journey as they are guided around the Gurambai walking trail. Landed is a full-length dance work embedded in the local landscape.
David McMicken and Tim Newth
Creative Team
Concept and Direction: David McMicken and Tim Newth
Choreography: Gary Lang (guest), Kelly Beneforti, Aaron Lim (Tracks 2016 mentoree), David McMicken, Tim Newth and dancers
Choreographic Assistant to Kelly Beneforti: Will Nery
Production Design: Tim Newth
Tee Shirt Design: Isaiah Balcombe
Soundtrack:
Original Music: David McMicken
Sound Mastering: Matt Cunliffe
Cello – Improvisation and Bach Sarabande from Cello Suite No 2 in D Minor BWV 1008: Rebecca Harris
“Speak to the Land”: Composed and arranged by Matt Cunliffe with lyrics and vocals by Steve Wanta Jampijinpa Patrick
Performers
Lead Dancers
Vera Tabuzo, Kelly Beneforti and Darren Edwards
Break Dancers
Aaron Lim, John Rigas, Kyle Ramboyong
Tracks Ensemble
Harry Balaj, Leanne Eltagonde, Merlene Hutt, Clarissa Kennedy-Scott, Taleisha Kessell, Ashlee Kirkham, Kate Mornane, Kyle Ramboyong, Kristi Renfrey, Tara Schmidt, Jenelle Saunders, Emma Poole
Casuarina Senior College
Piodena Sulong, Vicki Nguyen, Ervin Polinio, Katherine Rideout, Bethany White, Allen Villa, Aga Manulid, Don Ofiaza MacKenzie, Jemma Stanley, Michelle Long
Millner Primary School
Marilyn Gurruwiwi, Keilani Rotumah, Kupe Potaka, Shakur Petterson, Sophie Finden, Daisy Wesley, Harini Bitla, Tikki Gohier, Gabrielle Vanweydeveld, Eden McCosh, Bianca Barberis, Jazley Bruce-Morich, Miggy Maduro, Fletcher Anderson, Yaseen Ursani, Kean Nabua, Mia Lay and Yvonne Rankin
Production and Promotion Personnel
Production Manager: Angus Robson
Stage Manager: CJ Fraser Bell
Production Assistants: Kadek Hobman and Lesley Alford
Promotion/Media: Agnès Michelet and Clancy Breasley
Front of House Manager: Noya Chong Wah
Head Steward: Sally Crawford
Poster Image and Design: Mark Marcelis
Graphic Design: Narelle Sullivan
Advertisement/Video Documentation: Dreamedia
Camera: Luci Caldwell, Ben Krug, Talea Pattemore
Video Editing: Jean-Eddy Moutou
Photographic Documentation: David Hancock
Scenario
Human Wisdoms (seated)
Just Landed – Break, Ensemble and Lead dancers
Mosquitoes – Millner Primary School
Nature’s Wisdoms (Gurambai Walking Trail)
Plants and Animals – Millner Primary School
Earth – Ensemble
Water – Casuarina Senior College
Finale
Listening to the land and each other – Full cast
Thank you
Ian Kew, Claire Eltringham and Darwin International Airport staff, Merv Pringle, Lesley Alford, Michael Schmid, Rhett Nothling, Kerrie Perkins, Catherine Baylis, Shandell Mcandrew, Marita Smith, Paul Mathews, Qantas, Just Looking Boutique, Darwin Correctional Services, Palm Springs, Furry Godmother Pet Resort, Tony Allen and the Rotary Club of Darwin North, Darwin Festival staff, Veg North, Emily Dienhoff and the Mercure Darwin Airport Resort, Mathew McHugh, Marg Lee, Pat O’Neill, Lizzi Web, Jenny Dowling La Cucina Sotto le Stelle, Box Jellyfish, Abby Shepherd, Giovani Maduro, Elspeth Hurse,Warwick Peter-Budge, Guilia Elliot-Hall, Jill Malseed, Antonietta Vanzella, Clare Scarce, Dale Howard, Darryl Butler, David Taylor, Jade Kimm, Janine Sutter, Jenni Sanderson, Kath McMicken, Krissy Magee, Mary Magee, Marg Dorman, Melanie Tribe, Natalie Hafsteins, Penny Paton, Thevi Chelliah, Wati Kerta.
Sponsors
Darwin International Airport, Southern Cross TV
Government 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 Partner
Darwin Festival
Tracks 2016
Artistic Co-Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
General Manager: Agnès Michelet
Administrator: Clancy Breasley
Production Manager: Mathew McHugh
Dance Animateur: Kelly Beneforti
Bookkeeper: Noya Chong Wah
Committee Members: Mary Durack (Chairperson), Glenn Bernardin (Treasurer), Michael Grant, David Taylor, Ken Conway, Stephanie Cvirn, Venaska Cheliah. David McMicken, Tim Newth, Agnès Michelet (Ex-Officio Members)
Public Fund Trustees: Rev. Steve Orme, Dr Anita Toth, Ippei Okazaki
Patron: His Honour, The Honourable John Hardy OAM, Administrator of the Northern Territory
Photos
Videos
Explore Further
Media Responses
… stunning production. Landed celebrates community and, of course, our beautiful backyard.” Courts White - Turn It Up (for and by young people in the Top End)
“Tracks’ Landed integrates dance, site and community to express a sense of sacred belonging. … exemplify[ing] more than diversity; it represent[s] respect for and a capacity to build on the past, … to acknowledge the power, currency and survival of traditional spiritual life.” Nicky Fearn - Realtime
Click here to read review by Nicky Fearn
“Other highlights of the opening weekend (of Darwin Festival) included local dance company Tracks' Landed, a site-specific guided tour in the dry Marrarra Swamp…” Debbie Cuthbertson - The Age
Audience Responses
“Some absolutely beautiful images and moments experienced. Incorporated a diversity of community and professional level dance wonderfully so we get the best of both areas.”
“A captivating experience that made me feel thoroughly connected to the land and the performers within the show.”
“Landed resonated with me strongly; this experience of returning to Darwin and the feelings it evokes.” Kylie McMartin
“My daughter & I saw the show on Saturday struggling with massive jet lag from arriving from Paris on Thursday. My 9 year old forced me out of bed to come watch it after I had hit a wall of exhaustion. Once there we got our second wind. Energised I felt like the show was written just for us :) great show! We Loved it & my child was extremely disappointed when it ended.” Stephanie de la vie
Cast Responses
“Landed showcased the diversity of Darwin through the stories of the young people, their cultures and also the spaces in the walking trial. NT culture is not something that can be defined but has elements of sharing of knowledge, of differences and acceptance. I believe Landed worked to highlight all of these elements in the performance and process.”
“the opportunity to take on many roles within the project continues to make me a more adaptable, resilient and open minded artist.”
“I've been able to change from a dancer to a performer”
“...dance can be a hobby and still go a long way without it being a career.”
“... being out in the site, in the surrounds of the bush was an obvious link to NT culture. For me personally I really loved this aspect of the performance and it certainly made me feel more connected to the land and have a greater appreciation for our natural surroundings and culture of our Indigenous peoples.”
Listen
From the Soundtrack: Water
Composed by David McMicken for Kelly Beneforti's section Water