By Grace Edwards.
Since completing her honours year research into choreographic practice in 2006 at the Queensland University of Technology, dancer and choreographer Nerida Matthaei has been unstoppable. Co-founder of Phluxus Dance Collective, Nerida’s jointly-choreographed first work with the company, ‘the machine that carries the soul’, won the Critics Choice Award for Best Choreography at the 2007 Short Sweet and Dance Festival and the company was awarded the title of Runner up for Best Performance in the Dance/Movement category at The Age 2006 Melbourne Fringe Festival. The Collective’s most recent full-length work created in collaboration with Australian artist Brian Lucas was nominated for an Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance.
A Blank Canvas Residency with Firkin Crane, Ireland in 2009 saw the birth of Phluxus’ latest project, ‘Boiling Point’. Dance Informa’s Grace Edwards speaks to Nerida about ‘Boiling Point’ and her latest endeavours as the head of Phluxus2, the Collective’s latest incarnation.
Nerida, you co-founded Phluxus Dance Collective with Skye Sewell and Chafia Brookes. As the trio is parting ways creatively this year, Phluxus2 will no doubt differ to the old Phluxus. What will be the main difference?
Phluxus2 holds the same tradition [as Phluxus Dance Collective] of creating opportunities to collaboratively create and perform new work by Brisbane-based independent artists. Those who have followed Phluxus Dance Collective’s work will know that each work we’ve created has been quite different.
Phluxus has always been about pushing the artists to their creative, choreographic and physical boundaries. However, of course, this work will incorporate exciting new artistic visions and movement vocabularies!
Phluxus2 is welcoming two artists to work on Boiling Point – Liesel Zink and Samantha Williams. Choreographically, how has this project developed and taken shape over time between the three of you?
The inspiration and title of this work came quite naturally to me, and what Boiling Point has become during the creative development is an abstract representation of personal and emotional boiling points.
This project developed with equal collaborative input and shaped itself during our formative rehearsal process. Creatively, we all have quite different backgrounds and influences. For example, Samantha has a strong connection to break dancing and this has influenced the movement style in some ways, which has been particularly exciting. I believe that collaborations are most exciting when you can incorporate everyone’s strengths and differences to make a unique performance. The process has been very inspiring.
Our rehearsal process started when we were the inaugural artists-in-residence at Dancenorth in Townsville. Though we all knew each other from the industry, we had never worked together or spent much time together. This meant that the residency was pivotal in our relationship as a collective, especially since we stayed in a dorm as backpackers. We got to know each other very quickly, and it was a lot of fun!
What are the main themes and processes that interest you as a choreographer?
As a choreographer, I am inspired by social issues, stories and emotional events to which I have a personal connection. I am inspired by things I believe in or that have affected me in some way. I am often drawn to partner work and the relationships between bodies, and I draw heavily on the emotional content of what I am creating to inspire a movement vocabulary relevant to what I am working on. I work hard at continuing to push myself creatively and am always looking for the next challenge. I try to work as a choreographer, a collaborator and a performer to keep my practice rounded and exciting.
You have been strongly involved with choreographic practice over the course of your career. Did your love for choreographing evolve naturally out of a ‘first love’ of dancing or had you envisioned yourself as a choreographer from the beginning?
It came from my love of dancing, absolutely! I began dancing at a young age and was not introduced to choreography until I joined Quantum Leap Youth Choreographic Ensemble, a youth dance company in Canberra. We were able to work with exciting independent artists and were given the opportunity to choreograph and present our own work. This is when I first started to develop a passion for performance and choreography.
On your website, neridance.com, you have listed yourself as available to take up a wide number of roles in the dance community — performing artist, project manager etc. How important is the ability to be adaptable?
As an independent dance artist, I find it is essential to be able to diversify your skills and tap into a number of career avenues. Also, it is extremely useful to have knowledge of the other areas of the arts and theatre that really assist in putting together an independent production such as Boiling Point.
What is your greatest dream for yourself personally, and for independent dance in Australia?
My greatest dream — what a big question… I hope to continue challenging myself creatively, continue learning about my practice and continue creating interesting dance. I hope to eventually become an artistic director for a leading Australian dance company… perhaps my own (let’s dream big!). I hope to have a growing international career. I also hope that the independent dance scene in Australia continues to grow and flourish and that all within it be recognised for the amazing artists that create great work all around the country.
For more information visit http://neridance.com/
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