In a stunning first for Australasian Dance Collective (ADC), 38 dancers will take to South Bank’s River Quay Green to premiere Arc at Brisbane Festival. Arc represents a watershed moment for the Brisbane-based collective, with ADC’s 30-strong Youth Ensemble performing alongside the acclaimed company dancers for the very first time.
Created by Artistic Director Amy Hollingsworth, Arc is a remarkable and triumphant work of scale that captures the odyssey of the human spirit, and how we strive for purpose and unity following a time of separation and fear.
A bespoke creation for Brisbane Festival, and set amongst the greenery of River Quay Green, this deeply-moving piece not only prompts a response, it demands it. It invites audiences to take part in the celebration of being human, together – relishing in the joy of community and shared experience.
Hollingsworth said combining the company dancers with the Youth Ensemble exemplified the artistic vision of Australasian Dance Collective. “The invitation to create something new for Brisbane Festival offered an opportunity to bring one of my dreams to life – creating a work on our entire collective of dancers, combining the extraordinary company artists with our 30 youth ensemble dancers.”
She added, “Working and creating alongside each other, the huge cast of 38 dancers, ranging from 15- to 35-years-old, is experiencing a wonderfully reciprocal environment – the young performers are being both inspired and nurtured by the company dancers, but their energy and passion is truly giving back to the company dancers.”
After a tumultuous year which has included cancelling multiple performance seasons, Hollingsworth said the opportunity to perform for an audience again was “very emotional”.
“The dancers of the collective have kept their sense of strength and purpose in this difficult time, but nothing quite compares to the incredibly enriching experience of performing live – it is so emotionally rewarding for performer and audience alike,” she said. “We have been longing to connect in person again, to create a sense of community through sharing and experiencing moments that move us, en masse.”
ADC blends its signature physical prowess with compelling, artful contemplation to create a thought-provoking and high energy performance that challenges and moves the soul.
“Arc represents so many things – the arc we are all on, moving from what was to what lies ahead, navigating and embracing a new normal. It lends itself to the emotional arc of the work but also the trajectory we have been experiencing – from isolation to reconnection,” Hollingsworth noted.
Showcasing an outstanding array of Brisbane talent, from the cast to the creatives, the much-loved gathering space on the banks of the river will come alive with an evocative new score from award-winning composer Wil Hughes.
Arc will be presented at Southbank’s River Quay Green on 18 and 19 September, at 5:15pm. The event is free. For more information, visit www.brisbanefestival.com.au/whats-on/arc.
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