2020 ARTISTIC PROGRAM
MAJOR PRODUCTIONS
Tracks’ full-length works have a large cast (from 35 and up to 150). An engaged community and a diversity of participants are central to the creative process. Site and place are used as fundamental anchors to the work, while combining professional creatives and performers with passionate amateurs of different ages and backgrounds. Tracks’ performances celebrate the magical combination of people, their place, and the spirit of that place.
Seasons of Skin and Bark
2020 July / August - In Development
2021 August - Performance Season
Seasons of Skin and Bark looks at the human connection to the natural world as a thinking intelligent environment. Visitors know that Darwin has a Wet and a Dry Season, but locals are aware of the subtle changes over the year. Tracks will draw on rhizome philosophy, exploring the connection of any point to any other point, the Territory’s geographic location, and the seven seasons locally recognised in the Larrakia country of Darwin.
The creation of Seasons of Skin and Bark begins with five core dancers; like rings of a tree gradually expanding outwards, the dancers will grow the cast through their personal networks, developing an interconnected matrix of performers and histories. The cast will include 30 community dancers.
Milpirri - Yinapaka
Lajamanu Community, NT
2020 - In Development
2021 September - Performance Event
Yinapaka is a significant Warlpiri sacred site. In the Jukurrpa (Ceremonial Law - Dreaming) is where the birds went to learn to fly. In Warlpiri, the level a bird flies can be related to law and achievement - Yankirri (Emu) the teacher; Winyiwinpa (Spotted Harrier) being a smart hunter; Wirntiki (Stone Curlew) helping others; and Karnka (Crow) strategically working things out.
Milpirri works across the community – from Lajamanu school to organisations from youth to rangers, as well as male and female elders. With up to 200 performers and over 400 audience made up of residents and visitors, this remote performance is a cause for Australian celebration of our 60,000 year dance heritage.
PARTICIPATION PROGRAM
We believe that everyone should have the chance to enjoy dancing. The Tracks Participation Program is about engaging in dance as a whole of life activity and presenting it publicly. This program provides diverse opportunities to be involved in a project at Tracks, including everything from large-scale events to smaller pop-up performances.
The Grey Panthers
Darwin and Batchelor: February - November
Tracks believes in dance as a whole of life activity. The Grey Panthers dancing troupe for the over 60's is a prime example of this as the longest continually running seniors community dance group in Australia.
The group has a weekly class in Darwin and Batchelor and regularly performers on the Darwin and surrounding region’s presenting a mixture of repertoire and new works.
Dead Singers Dance Society
Tracks Dance Studio, Darwin: Four short courses during the year
If you want to dance to great music? You'll want to be a part of Darwin's most 'inclusive', 'exlusive' Dead Singers Dance Society.
In the series of 4-week courses you will learn a fun and achievable dance routine that celebrates the music of a legendary ‘dearly departed’ singer. Society Meetings (dance classes) are held in an inclusive and supportive dance space led by an experienced teacher.
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
With no tertiary dance courses available in the Northern Territory, there is limited opportunity for independent artists to develop their skills or to network. Tracks’ Development Program seeks to fill the gap of entrance level dance making with the Choreographic Development Program for adults, and Make a Dance In A Week for youth. Further support for independent dance practice is through the Space Time Studio Residency program.
All Development Program activities are at Tracks Dance Studio, 8 McMinn St, Darwin
Space Time Studio Residency
October 2019 - March 2020 and October 2020 - March 2021
If you’re a local, independent dance or movement artist, this program is for you. Space Time Studio Residency provides you with access to development time in a studio space, and mentorship from the Tracks staff.
Choreographic Program
Program: August - November
Showing: November 21-22
The Choreographic Program provides an opportunity for emerging movement artists and dance-makers to explore the mechanics and creative scope of choreography in an artistically rich environment.
Youth Choreographic Residency
Sept 28 - Oct 9
Held over 8 days, this Choreographic Residency will expand your versatility through daily master classes and introduce tasks that will unleash your creativity and guide you into the making of your own solo choreography. You will also contribute to a collaboratively created group work.
Aimed at secondary and tertiary level students, this residency is ideal for people wanting to skill up to potentially enter the professional dance industry, or preparing for auditions into further dance study, or simply to further develop their own creative expression.
Home Bodies (Fresh Tracks)
Program: May - June
Due to covid-19 and the subsequent performance and audience restrictions this year Fresh Tracks sees a shakeup. ‘Home Bodies’ - Still follows the principles of the program, Tracks Dance Animateurs have hand select 12 dance artists (all alumni of the Tracks Choreographic Program) and invite them to ‘Make A Dance In A Day’.
The 12 works will be filmed/documented with the potential of a remount in 2021.
Tracks 2020
Artistic Co-Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
Company Director: Adelaide Wood
Administrator: Jessica Mellor
Production Manager: Duane Preston
Dance Animateurs: Kelly Beneforti and Jess Devereux
Bookkeeper: It Figures
Committee Members: David Taylor (Chairperson), Glenn Bernardin (Treasurer), Michael Grant, Ken Conway, Venaska Cheliah, Max Dewa Stretton. David McMicken, Tim Newth, Adelaide Wood (Ex-Officio Members)
Public Fund Trustees: Maari Gray, Will Crawford and Lachlan Peattie
Patron: Her Honour the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran AM, Administrator of the Northern Territory
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.