Man Made
Text
Frog Hollow Park, Darwin City
August 11-13, 16-20, 2017
Darwin Festival
What makes a man? Ambition, pride, honour, competitiveness and a keen sense of adventure. Are these attributes that shape a man? From schoolyards, backyards, streets, bars and barbeques - what messages come through to us and what challenges lie ahead?
What does a man make? A model plane, a loaf of bread, a house, a dance, a table, a quilted blanket, a bookshelf, a garden.
Man Made explores the male as an individual: his habits, idiosyncrasies, passions, talents and drives. It also seeks to understand males as a group: exploring energy, physicality, memory, knowledge, leadership, belonging, work and play.
Performed by a cast of male dancers from 12 to 70 years old, Man Made explores four states of manhood, the transition from boy to man, the forces that push and pull the sons of the world, the muscle strength factor, ageing in the skin of men.
Original scores by David McMicken, Darwin and Sydney based DJ masters, James Mangohig and Jack Prest, give the beat to choreographies by the Tracks artistic team. They are joined by D-City Rockers lead Aaron Lim and one of Australia’s most sought after dancers Josh Mu, returning to the Tracks fold, having built an extraordinary dance career as a performer with Chunky Move, Shaun Parker Company, Marrugeku and Dancenorth, to name a few.
Man Made was a full length work performed outdoors under the canopy of the Frog Hollow Park trees as a part of the 2017 Darwin Festival Program.
Winner 2018 Australian Dance Award, Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance.
Creative Team
Concept and Direction: David McMicken and Tim Newth
Choreography: David McMicken, Aaron Lim, Kelly Beneforti, Josh Mu and dancers
Design: Tim Newth
Original Music: Jack Prest, James Mangohig and David McMicken
Click here to read interveiw with Co-Artistic Directors Tim Newth and David McMicken by General Manager Agnès Michelet about the creation of Man Made.
Performers
Aaron Lim, Anthony Burridge, Bernie Trinne, Danial Ireland, Daniel Ferguson, Darren Mccallum, Darryl Butler, David Taylor, David McMicken, Don Mackenzie Ofiaza, Drew Holloway, Ethan Bowden, Glenn Bernardin, John Sullivan, Harry Balaj, Haylen Duncan, Isaac Button, Jordan Bretherton, Josh Mu, Kai Barrett-McGuin, Mark Bunnett, Max Higgins, Will Nery.
The Cast and Creative Team were asked questions about being a man. Click here to read what they said and see them with their man made object.
Production and Promotion Personnel
Production Manager: Angus Robson
Stage Manager: CJ Fraser Bell
Promotion/Media: Agnès Michelet and Jessica Mellor
Lighting Designer: Chris Kluge
Assistant Stage Manager: Kadek Hobman
Technician: Nick Manley
Soundtrack Mastering (Subsonic Music and Sound): Matt Cunliffe
Front of House Manager: Noya Chong Wah
Head Steward: Sally Crawford, Charlie Marengo
Poster Image and Design: Mark Marcelis
Graphic Design: Narelle Sullivan
Advertisement/Film Documentation: Dreamedia
Camera: Luci Caldwell, Abelito Langbid, Steven Hoare
Edit - Steven Hoare
Photographic Documentation: David Hancock
Scenario
Solo/Duet
Will Nery and Jordan Bretherton.
Choreography: Kelly Beneforti, Will Nery and Jordan Bretherton. Music: James Mangohig
Look What I Made Mum (Man Made Objects)
All Cast with Angus Robson and Kadek Hobman.
Something I Forgot
Anthony Burridge, Bernie Trinne, Darren Mccallum, Darryl Butler, David McMicken, David Taylor, Glenn Bernardin, John Sullivan and Mark Bunnett.
This work focusses on the aging male, starting at mid-life, through mature adulthood, and on to late adulthood. From a time of personal contemplation, or of wanting to give back, dad dancing and messages from our youth that survive into our aging, and then the rich wisdom that remains once memoires of our past have completed their job of shaping our future; attempting to avoid past mistakes, if only we could remember them. As questions of ‘forgettory’ arise the experience of memory changes. What is remembered and what is actually performed in the present moment through a thinking body that also forgets?
Choreography and Music: David McMicken. (Additional sound recordings: Hold your Hand Out You Naughty Boy (1913) written and composed by C. W. Murphy and David Worton and sung by popular Australian vaudeville performer Florrie Forde. Also some early sound recordings of Conan Doyle - 1930, Spoken English by Bernard Shaw 1927, and Mahatma Gandhi’si Spiritual Message to the world 1931.)
Solo
Aaron Lim
Choreography: Aaron Lim with Josh Mu. Music: Jack Prest
Becoming
Ethan Bowden, Haylen Duncan, Isaac Button, Kai Barrett-McGuin and Will Nery
Becoming deals with the transition from boy to man. What lessons have been learned, and how prepared are our young men for the life ahead? Cause and response, action and reaction, protection and projection. Who do we look up to? Who's with us along the journey? Where was I before and where and I going? Will I become a hero or a monster, or just myself?
Choreographed: Aaron Lim. Music: Jack Prest
Sons
Danial Ireland, Daniel Ferguson, Don Mackenzie Ofiaza, Drew Holloway, Harry Balaj and Max Higgins
Over time, those that we view as ‘sons’ have shaped themselves and been shaped through laying down many layers of memory, thought, experience, action and belief. This work peels back the outwardly-projected image of a group of young men to reveal the labyrinthine pathways of their hearts and minds, and explore the forces, both tangible and intangible, that push and pull against them. In a contemporary world, how does each son navigate the challenges, risks, opportunities, and conflicts that arise in his lifetime? Choreography: Kelly Beneforti and the participants. Music: James Mangohig
Solo
Josh Mu
Choreography: Josh Mu. Music: James Mangohig
Prime Time
Aaron Lim, Jordan Bretherton, Josh Mu And Will Nery
With male muscle strength supposedly peaking at 25, it is said that it is all downhill from there. Four professional dancers, ask what does it mean to reach your prime, how does it feel from inside the body, and how does this present to the outside world? Choreography: Josh Mu, Aaron Lim and dancers. Music: Jack Prest
Midnight Snack
All Cast
The sixteen year old comes to the fridge and announces he is hungry. The fifty year old stares into the fridge not knowing what he came for. In our own worlds away from the group who are we?
Sponsors
Darwin International Airport, Southern Cross TV, Darwin Entertainment Centre
Project Partner
Darwin Festival
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.
Thank You
Wormald Darwin, Palm Springs NT, NT Department of Correctional Services, Arts NT, City of Darwin, Jo Parish, Lillian Mann, Marg Lee, Julia Quinn, Luther Wilson, Zachary Wilson, Allain Gumapon, Daniel Ferguson, Marita Smith, Putu Warti, Fiona McManus, Gail Evans, Mary Beneforti, Alan James, Darwin Entertainment Centre, Northern Territory AIDS, Hepatitis Council, David Taylor, Brown's Mart, Frog Hollow Tenants and the generous support of our volunteer stewards.
Donors
The generosity of our donors has enabled us to bring back Josh Mu (a Tracks alumni) to perform in Man Made.
We greatly thank Sylvia Langford, Brian Tucker, Katrina Fong Lim, Barbara Bauert, Barbara Pitman, Barry Thomson, Darryl Butler, Don Whyte, Encore Pilates team, Graeme Cheater, Heather Hyde, Joanne Hilliard, J.L Hills, Judy McKerr, Nicole Cridland, Noya Chong Wah, Roslyn Henry, Sally-Anne Mason, Shannon Beneforti, Virginia Burrow, Jan Conti, Ian Landon, Diana Leeder, the Grey Panthers, our Deckchair Fundraising night audience, the Board of former Ausdance NT and the Board of Charttes.
Wish to support Tracks and join our giving program? Go to http://www.tracksdance.com.au/giving-tracks
Tracks 2017
Artistic Co-Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
Comapny Director: Agnès Michelet/Adelaide Wood
Administrator: Clancy Breasley/Jessica Mellor
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
Audience Responses
"Pitched beautifully.... There was tenderness and joy as well as strength and boldness.... It was powerful and honest without being confronting, witty and amusing without being silly, and generous and sweet without being patronising. I thoroughly enjoyed it!" Jane Hayley - Chief Executive Officer, Ten Days on the Island.
"Making dance that speaks directly to the here and now for the people of Darwin isn’t just an artistic goal for Tracks, but also one to ensure it can build and maintain essential community ties. That source of inspiration is particularly clear in Track’s latest work, Man Made..." Ben Neutze - Daily Review. Read full article
“…. changed not only my perceptions of the creative landscape in Darwin, but also the inherent values and benefits of engaging, truly, with a passionate creative community who will take creative risks and put it all on the line.” Geoffrey Williams - Stage Whispers.
Cast Responses
“An appreciation for performers in how they bring themselves to the stage. Not the craft but the authenticity of the individual and how that can be encouraged to shine through in shows.”
“I expected a diverse cast and presumed there would be challenges. What surprised me was how amazing they all were as individuals. Rising to any challenge, open minded and full of respect for the variety of different people they were surrounded by. I'm sure this attitude is an extension of what Tracks brings to these projects.”
“I learned a lot about myself and how I can break the boundaries of my own dance style to work in a group. I also learned that dance doesn't stop at any age it is a thing that can stay with you for life.”
“It has helped me to grow by teaming me with people I have never met before, created a safe space for me to interact with other male dancers and become more confident.”
“This project has taught me a lot. Josh Mu acted as a great mentor and friend. He not only taught me many different approaches to choreographer. He also taught me a wide variety of physical skills, professional practices, personal and professional developmental approaches and much more it feels like.”
“Man Made was celebration of what it means to be a man. And how being a man is not bound by definition but is an amalgam of many walks of life.”
“My first expectations of being involved in Man Made, were that it was going to be a physically and mentally challenging development. And in the end, yes it was very challenging, but in a good way in which I developed skills as a dancer, performer and artist.”
“Did not realize how much I missed hanging out with a bunch of guys for a purpose. Took me back to a time when I played sport in that team environment . It was all about the team being there for one another to win the final and in a personal way. It also took me back to a time on the factory floor or working on building sites. You are there for the work. But there is something special about pulling up a paint tin and sitting down for smoke. Sharing stories and breaking bread together. An office morning tea is miles away from those days . I now realize this from doing Man Made.”
“It really is a personal journey. Tracks provides a safe place for the journey and to be vulnerable.”
“I had no previous dance skills but I come away with many skills and the confidence to perform them.”