ANNUAL REPORT 2019

form.org.au CONTENTS

ABOUT US 4 GOVERNANCE AND STAFF 4 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR 5 PROGRAM OVERVIEW 2019 6 MARKETING AND PUBLICITY 8

PERFORM – ARTISTIC PROGRAM 9 ENCOUNTER SOUTH 10 “FORM DANCE PROJECTS HAS CONCEIVED, THE MAKING OF ENCOUNTER 11 REALISED AND EPITOMISED THE ZEITGEIST PRELUDE 12 IN THIS ONE EVENT WITH TWO NAMES, DANCE BITES 2019 13 PRELUDE AND ENCOUNTER.” MEDIA 18 VICKI VAN HOUT, BLOGGER PLATFORM – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 19 STUDIO RESIDENCIES 20

TRANSFORM – EDUCATION PROGRAM 23 LEARN THE REPERTOIRE SEE THE SHOW 24 CHOREOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP 25 SHARP SHORT DANCE 26 SHARP SHORT DANCE AWARDS 27

INFORM – COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 28 BLOGGER IN RESIDENCE 28 CULTURAL PERFORMING ARTS NETWORK 29 DANCE CLASSES FOR OVER 55S 30 DANCE FOR PARKINSON’S 30

APPENDIX ONE – ARTIST LIST 31 APPENDIX TWO – AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE 32 APPENDIX THREE – WEBSITE STATISTICS 32 APPENDIX FOUR – AUDITED FINANCIAL REPORT 2019 33 ABRIDGED VERSION

PARTNERS, SUPPORTERS & SPONSORS 37

FORM DANCE PROJECTS ACKNOWLEDGES THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS OF THE LAND WE WORK ON, THE BURRAMATTAGAL PEOPLE AND CLANS OF THE DARUG NATION, AND WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THEIR ELDERS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

Front cover image: Heidrun Löhr, ENCOUNTER SOUTH, Lawrencea Mateariki, dancer Inside cover image: Sunny Gill, ENCOUNTER SOUTH, Xara Zaineddine, dancer Back cover Image: Sunny Gill, ENCOUNTER SOUTH, Feras Shaheen, dancer 2 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 3 As one of the leading presenters of FORM’s partnerships are vital to our Image: Dom O’Donnell, Sharp Short Dance, Outstanding Female Dancer, Amari Leiva Urzua ABOUT US independent dance in Sydney and work. We have developed and maintained Australia, FORM is the place artists numerous relationships across industry come to premiere new dance work and sectors and across Western Sydney that Emerging 20 years ago through a Create realise their artistic vision. Our signature will continue to help us forge new ground NSW and City of Parramatta community Dance Bites program is acclaimed for and broaden opportunities for the dance outreach initiative, FORM has grown into its eclectic curation, showcasing a wide sector. Our many successes over the last a vital arts organisation firmly anchored range of choreographers working across decade demonstrate FORM is forging in Western Sydney. Uniquely placed in the diverse styles – from the innovative an exciting trajectory, based on unique Australian independent dance sector as and experimental to the popular and initiatives and responses to the broader both presenter and producer, FORM drives accessible. The works of experienced, arts landscape. an artistic program engaging a community more established artists are placed of local, national and international alongside those of promising newcomers. dance artists. FORM takes risks. We commission GOVERNANCE Our purpose is to rigorously support “FORM DANCE PROJECTS IS LIKE NO OTHER IN and produce large new Australian PATRON CHRIS BATH independent Australian dance artists and THE REGION. THE ORGANISATION IS SUCH AN dance works, made in Parramatta, develop audiences for contemporary dance. Western Sydney. In collaboration with BOARD EXECUTIVE IMPORTANT RESOURCE – IT PROVIDES WESTERN FORM exists to provide opportunities for diverse partner companies and leading CHAIR NARELLE LEWIS Australian independent dance artists to SYDNEY AUDIENCES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE Australian independent choreographers VICE-CHAIR & TREASURER create, experiment, present new work and PROJECTS THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE WAY and artists, we extend professional PAMELA THORNTON connect with audiences. We support artists development opportunities for mid- SECRETARY ALISSA BRUCE DANCERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS ARE THINKING at all stages of their career, develop their career to established artists to create AND WORKING TODAY.” national and international profiles and and collaborate in the making of BOARD MEMBERS provide valuable professional development innovative new work. ANDREW DEMETRIOU DAVID CAPRA, opportunities. ARUNA GANDHI INDEPENDENT ARTIST FORM provides unique opportunities BODEN EVANS FORM’s vision is ambitious. In Parramatta, for young people in Western Sydney. We JEREMY MOLLER rapidly transforming into Sydney’s increase their exposure to renowned DR. JULIE-ANNE LONG central city, we work in an environment choreographic practice, contribute MELISSA McGRATH reflective of a future Australia. Alongside to art form appreciation and develop PROF. PETER HUTCHINGS independent dance artists, we embrace young audiences. We play an important SIDDARTHA KAPOOR the diversity of young Western Sydney role in fostering the next generation of SIMON VINCENT dancers from many cultural communities dance makers. Through our enlivening to challenge the face of Australian education program, we provide access TEAM contemporary dance. We build on our and participation in dance culture for DIRECTOR ANNETTE McLERNON expertise in the contemporary dance MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR early-career artists and performing PROGRAM MANAGER AGNES MICHELET sector and offer something new to artists arts students. Underpinning the artistic BUSINESS MANAGER SALLY EBERT and audiences. program and as a companion to our ADMIN AND MARKETING MAYA GAVISH Dance Bites program, the education SHARP SHORT DANCE ARTISTIC FORM’s program spans four key areas – program includes skills development, PRODUCER MAYA GAVISH presentation and producing, education, As usual, in 2019 FORM Dance Projects Dance festival will be further nurtured sincerely thank Riverside for their efforts workshops, Q&A sessions and community engagement and audience delivered artistic outcomes so much as our plans for a dedicated Western in working to help secure us temporary masterclasses. The annual Sharp Short ENCOUNTER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER development. The interconnectedness greater than the sum of our parts. From Sydney dance ensemble consolidate. use of Parramatta Town Hall to allow our Dance Festival for choreographers and ANNETTE McLERNON of these activities is vital for a wider Four Winds and Sydney Festival premieres At the other end of the spectrum, our work to continue in 2019. dancers 21 and under offers young artists understanding of Australian dance of our new major work, ENCOUNTER, dance classes for seniors, piloted in a unique opportunity to experience a PRELUDE CO-CURATORS culture in a shifting contemporary context. to creating opportunities for the 2018, were presented again in 2019. With This year, we said goodbye to longstanding presentation environment supported by ANNETTE McLERNON professional development of Western interest, and vitally, support, growing board members, Dr Garry Lester and industry peers. EMMA SAUNDERS Sydney dance artists through our annual in the creative ageing space, we are Miranda Wheen, and I would like to thank Dance Bites presentation program, confident that community participation them for their time and invaluable support Sharp Short Dance festival and studio in such programs will continue to build, of the company over many years. We residencies, FORM continues to champion generating benefits for both participants have also welcomed a number of new the creative endeavours of Australian and dance artists through employment in board members to FORM, each of whom independent dancemakers. this budding sector. brings fresh knowledge, energy and focus to our small company. Working with Our latest major work, ENCOUNTER, I would like to acknowledge the ongoing the staff, their contribution to ensuring developed steadily over 2019, with the support FORM receives from Create strong governance and strategic direction support of key partners and funders in NSW, City of Parramatta, Crown Resorts for FORM will equip us well into the Western Sydney and beyond, including and Packer Family Foundations. This future. Finally, on behalf of the Board Sydney Youth Orchestras, FLING Physical vital funding allows FORM to continue and the 300+ artists who engaged with Theatre (Bega) and the Four Winds Festival its important role in fostering the next FORM Dance Projects in 2019, I thank our (Bermagui). Taking FORM’s work beyond generation of independent dancemakers Director, Annette McLernon, who along Parramatta through partnerships such as through provision of practical, inter-linked with her team, continues working tirelessly these allows the rich diversity of Western professional pathways. The invaluable and selflessly to rigorously support Sydney voices and experiences to be support of Riverside Theatres through independent Australian dance artists and shared with broader (and equally diverse) venue, marketing and promotional develop audiences for contemporary dance. audience bases. provision cannot be understated. With the I look forward to seeing FORM grow into ongoing, across-the-board redevelopment 2020 and beyond. The wealth of young and emerging talent of Parramatta, guarantees of rehearsal we continue to uncover through our space and a permanent home for FORM NARELLE LEWIS education programs and Sharp Short remain an issue for us. However, we Chair

Heidrun Löhr, ENCOUNTER, Emma Saunders and Western Sydney ensemble 4 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 5 FORM had an extremely creative year in arts sector in Western Sydney, ensuring opportunity to create, experiment and PROGRAM OVERVIEW 2019 2019, which saw the company reaching cultural diversity continues to be at the present new work. FORM activated the new levels of artist and community core of every aspect of FORM’s program. Parramatta Town Hall, which was offered engagement. The presentation of the as studio space throughout the year by Dance Bites seasons, curated by Agnès An exciting and unexpected outcome the City of Parramatta and Riverside Michelet, had a strong global influence from the artistic program in 2019 was Theatres, facilitating 20 residencies (212 with dance artists from France to Africa the emergence of a Western Sydney days, 157 artists) to independent dance to the UK and Australa. The majority dance ensemble from the ENCOUNTER artists in 2019. of these works had their Australian or special project. This has the potential for international premieres with FORM. Dance the making of a Western Sydney youth We congratulate Wiradjuri artist, Vicki Bites continues to be an essential platform company, led by Associate Artist, Emma Van Hout, FORM’s blogger-in-residence in the independent dance sector ecology, Saunders, going forward into 2020 – 2024. since 2013, (Dance Bites 2018, plenty providing rare opportunities for artists to The youth company crystallises FORM’s serious TALK TALK). Vicki received the present new full-length works in Sydney. work celebrating young people, diversity Australia Council Award for Dance 2019, and inclusivity in Western Sydney, in recognition of her “outstanding and FORM commissioned a new festival project reflecting the zeitgeist of Australia’s sustained contribution to Australian dance” with the creation and presentation in Four transforming cultural fabric. as a director, choreographer, performer, Winds SPRING Festival of a site-responsive mentor, educator and writer, “charting work of joy, ENCOUNTER SOUTH. Directed ENCOUNTER itself was created on the new territories through her work, and by independent artist, Emma Saunders, foundations of FORM’s experience in challenging Australia’s cultural narrative.” ENCOUNTER SOUTH celebrates local producing and presenting the annual youth communities from Western Sydney to dance festival, Sharp Short Dance, which Thanks to all of the artists, and the the Bega Valley and confirms the “Made has provided opportunities for over a dedicated team including Sally Ebert, in Parramatta” mark that is forging the thousand young dance artists aged 21 and Business Manager; Agnès Michelet, reputation of FORM Dance Projects. under, over the last ten years. This year’s Program Manager; and Maya Gavish, Sharp Short Dance festival introduced 136 Administration and Marketing. Thanks Existing and new partnerships were young dance artists interested in exploring to the refreshed FORM board led by fostered through producing and presenting their choreographic and performance Chair, Narelle Lewis, and Vice Chair new dance works in collaboration and skills and presenting their new short and Treasurer, Pamela Thornton. We partnership with Sydney Youth Orchestras, works in the festival under the guidance of appreciate the commitment from trusted Four Winds Festival and Sydney Festival. artistic producer, independent dance artist partners including Robert Love AM, This included the curation and producing and educator, Maya Gavish. Riverside Theatres, City of Parramatta, of PRELUDE, a showcase of short dance Create NSW, Crown Resorts and Packer performances by diverse Western Sydney All of these projects are a culmination Family Foundations, which enables FORM dance artists, distilled from the last ten of the extensive work in curating, to continue to thrive in the Australian years of FORM Dance Projects programs, programming, and producing at FORM arts landscape. and presented in Sydney Festival 2020 as Dance Projects which has facilitated part of the ENCOUNTER presentation in 317 artists to participate in the artistic ANNETTE MCLERNON Parramatta. FORM has developed a strong and education program throughout the DIRECTOR connection with the local performing year, providing independent artists the

Image: Heidrun Löhr, ENCOUNTER, Western Sydney ensemble Image: Annette McLernon, ENCOUNTER, Emma Saunders, Western Sydney ensemble 6 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 7 MARKETING AND PUBLICITY PerFORM – ARTISTIC PROGRAM

FORM Dance Projects strategically aims Since 2013 FORM has commissioned to promote contemporary dance to wide the successful and widely respected audiences both in the theatre and on- Blogger in Residence program, with line. FORM collaborates with designers indigenous choreographer Vicki Van at Alphabet Studio and photographers Hout, reaching online audiences both in “IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL FOR ME HAVING FORM BELIEVING such as Heidrun Löhr and video artists Australia and internationally and creating IN MY WORK AS AN EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHER. IT IS such as Samuel James and Martin Fox to much needed critical discourse around DIFFICULT FOR AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST TO FIND A develop a unique brand, which promotes contemporary dance. and presents artists’ productions to the PLATFORM TO PRESENT WORKS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE highest standards possible. Images are FORM keeps engaging highly regarded WORK IS PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DANCE FORM. a powerful way to communicate with publicist company Kabuku PR to FORM IS ONE OF THE ONLY ORGANISATIONS IN NSW WILLING audiences and our creative team works gain excellent media exposure for TO TAKE THAT STEP AND SUPPORT ARTISTS.” hard to convey evocative and powerful our presentation programs including marketing collateral to capture people’s Dance Bites and Sharp Short Dance. CLOE FOURNIER, attention and elevate contemporary This ensures that our artists gather dance. FORM continues to work with valuable reviews and audience interest INDEPENDENT CHOREOGRAPHER Jala Design, creator of our new website in their work. design, launched in 2017.

FORM Dance Projects works with Australia’s leading choreographers and dancers and a diverse range of partners, from Riverside Theatres to independent producers and companies, arts organisations, education institutes, council and community service providers to support dance as an art form.

Dance Bites is a curated, signature program of contemporary dance works presented by FORM Dance Projects and Riverside Theatres. The annual Dance Bites program features some of Australia’s most innovative and exciting choreographers and performers. A Dance Bites season provides enormous opportunity for early-career to established independent choreographers to present their works with support from FORM in venue hire, technical production, administration, marketing and publicity of the production.

Since 2013, FORM has ventured into commissioning and producing large scale, genre-defying festival productions. These commissions support artform development, enhance professional development and the dance practices of early career to established dance artists. Through our entire artistic program FORM fosters career pathways, provides employment, and promotes the “Made in Parramatta” reputation and brand.

Image: Alex Apt, Dance Bites 2019, Mea Culpa, Cloé Fournier 8 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 9 Image: Heidrun Löhr, ENCOUNTER SOUTH exchange, Sarah Kalule, dancer A SITE-RESPONSIVE WORK OF JOY Orchestra to bring to life. Thanks to writer FROM PARRAMATTA TO BEGA Felicity Castagna for making it real with her words about growing up in a particular community and place, and being a safe- keeper of the dancers’ stories, along with ENCOUNTER – EPIC PROJECT, slam poet Pola Fanous and his powerful EPIC THANKS performance of the spoken word text. “SITE SPECIFIC WORKS REALLY DO HELP US TO A big call out to the eight Western Sydney In 2019, FORM commissioned and as Merce Cunningham/Cage and Anne dancers - Sarah Kalule, Lawrencea SEE THE FAMILIAR IN NEW AND UNEXPECTED produced a new Australian site-responsive Teresa De Keersmaeker. Mateariki, Sabrina Muszynski, Joshua WAYS, AND THOSE IMAGES REMAIN WITH US.” work of joy. ENCOUNTER SOUTH, directed O’Connor, Naomi Reichardt, Feras by Emma Saunders, launched at Four In ENCOUNTER, Saunders played with Shaheen, Caylan Spendlove, Xara DAVID FRANCIS, Winds SPRING Festival in Bermagui, opening up the scores and choreographic Zaineddine - who gave it their everything FOUR WINDS FESTIVAL EXECUTIVE PRODUCER NSW. We are developing it further as structures to a wide expanse and then over a year (dance, sweat, laughter and ENCOUNTER for Sydney Festival 2020. closing the performative elements down tears) and created an epic choreographed Thanks to James Crabb, Artistic Director to a subtle intimacy. The dancers moved work in collaboration with their mentor, of Four Winds Festival, and Wesley Enoch from a charged, visceral frenzy through to Emma Saunders. FORM can’t wait to at Sydney Festival for these festival more contained silence and stillness. All see what happens with you all and your presentation opportunities. Thanks to our of the performative elements were layered dancing in the coming years. metropolitan and regional partners Sydney in a way that they could be experienced Youth Orchestras and FLING Physical together in unison, or on their own, Another huge call out to Associate Theatre. Festival works of this scale need individually, from the dancers to the music Artist, Rob McCredie, and the vital and collaboration - artistic collaboration and and the spoken word text performed by the highly rigorous FLING Physical Theatre partnership collaboration - to make them slam poet, Pola Fanous. The flow of energy performers - Esme Barker, Ebony happen. Thank you for your contributions, around and across the site, the coming Constable, Gabriela Green Olea, Ebony ENCOUNTER SOUTH on many levels, to realise the vision. together and the coming apart, created a Ryan-Miners, Lara Scrivens, Bodhi Turner, sense of joy and surprise for artists and Rory Warne, Luca Yi - who welcomed EMMA SAUNDERS First and foremost, thanks to Emma audiences to experience. our Western Sydney mob on exchange Saunders, a powerhouse of creative dance residencies to the South Coast in 2019, and energy and enthusiasm. Emma took on The way Emma directed the entire brought so much light and commitment to this challenging epic project, juggling production was terrific – so broad to the creative collaboration. 75 artists across two sites, and all of the hold that space (in two places) and bring surprising elements that came our way together all the moving elements. The As for ENCOUNTER’s visual artist, the COMMISSIONED AND PRODUCED BY FORM DANCE PROJECTS throughout the making of ENCOUNTER. outcomes, for artists and audiences, have phlegmatic David Capra, he takes out SUPPORTED BY SYDNEY YOUTH ORCHESTRAS AND FLING PHYSICAL THEATRE This special project commission gave exceeded our expectations. Thanks to the FORM Dance Projects’ award for Most Emma Saunders the opportunity to collaborating artists, composers Amanda Outstanding Costume Design in an PRESENTED BY FOUR WINDS AS PART OF SPRING MUSIC FESTIVAL 1 NOVEMBER - 3 NOVEMBER experiment with her dance knowledge and Brown and Jodi Phillis who created a Independent Dance Production (for his practice, with particular reference to the playful, dramatic and moving original E-Bay Project, ENCOUNTER). Thanks also post modern dance pioneer Anna Halprin score for conductor James Pensini and the to Heidrun Löhr for stunning photography “This tree, this moment in the sunlight. DIRECTOR EMMA SAUNDERS FORM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER and her process, and other influences such wonderful Western Sydney Youth and Dom O’Donnell for that crackin’ trailer. The way the bark strips itself back and ASSOCIATE ARTIST ROB McCREDIE ANNETTE McLERNON arches outward towards me, like a hand CHOREOGRAPHY In collaboration FORM BUSINESS MANAGER inviting me closer.” with the DANCERS SALLY EBERT WRITER FELICITY CASTAGNA FORM PROGRAM MANAGER In this joyful site-responsive music and COMPOSERS AMANDA BROWN & AGNES MICHELET dance work, directed by the “formidable” JODI PHILLIS FORM ADMIN & MARKETING Emma Saunders, ENCOUNTER SOUTH ORCHESTRATOR JESSICA WELLS MAYA GAVISH explores the everyday extraordinariness WESTERN SYDNEY YOUTH ORCHESTRA FLING PHYSICAL THEATRE CO- “WE HAVE MERGED, RESPONDED AND CREATED and power of young people, from the CONDUCTOR JAMES PENSINI ARTISTIC DIRECTORS ROB McCREDIE & NEW WAYS OF MOVING THAT REFLECT AT TIMES, Bega Valley on the NSW South Coast to VISUAL ARTIST DAVID CAPRA GABRIELLE ROSE A COMMUNAL BODY, AND AT OTHER TIMES, THE Parramatta, Western Sydney. WESTERN SYDNEY DANCERS SARAH SYO GENERAL MANAGER KALULE, LAWRENCEA MATEARIKI, MIA PATOULIOS INDIVIDUAL NUANCES WE BRING TO DANCING.” In collaboration with a group of award- SABRINA MUSZYNSKI, JOSHUA SYO ARTISTIC PROGRAM MANAGER EMMA SAUNDERS, winning Australian artists, including O’CONNOR, NAOMI REICHARDT, FERAS KATIE GARMAN Felicity Castagna (writer), composers SHAHEEN, CAYLAN SPENDLOVE, ENCOUNTER DIRECTOR Amanda Brown (The Go-Betweens) and XARA ZAINEDDINE Jodi Phillis (The Clouds), ENCOUNTER THE FLING COMPANY ESME BARKER, SOUTH celebrates young people living in EBONY CONSTABLE, GABRIELA GREEN TOTAL NUMBER OF ARTISTS 75 urban and regional communities. OLEA, EBONY RYAN-MINERS, LARA AUDIENCE 300 SCRIVENS, BODHI TURNER, RORY Creatively developed with a cast of 16 WARNE, LUCA YI young dancers (eight from Western MUSICIANS WESTERN SYDNEY Sydney and eight from FLING Physical YOUTH ORCHESTRA Theatre), with Associate Artist Rob SPOKEN WORD POLA FANOUS, McCredie, and the Western Sydney Youth BILAL HAFDA (TRAILER) Orchestra conducted by James Pensini, PRODUCTION MANAGER REBECCA ENCOUNTER SOUTH explores the POULTER indomitable spirit of young people and PHOTOGRAPHY HEIDRUN LOHR the world they find themselves in. VIDEOGRAPHY DOMINIC O’DONNELL

Images: Heidrun Löhr, The Making of ENCOUNTER SOUTH, Emma Saunders, director 10 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 11 DANCE BITES 2019

PRELUDE

PRELUDE, the showcase of Western Sydney dance culture, will present nine short performances and 36 dancers and musicians each evening in the heritage- listed rotunda in the Prince Alfred Square, as part of the ENCOUNTER, Sydney Festival event. This is giving FORM Dance Projects the opportunity to introduce the wider dance community to festival audiences. Many of the artists featured in PRELUDE participate in the Cultural Performing Arts Network, Dance Bites, FORM DANCE PROJECTS AND Sharp Short Dance and FORM’s Seniors RIVERSIDE PRESENT DANCE BITES 2019 dance program. This intergenerational dance showcase, RECITAL co-curated by Annette McLernon and Emma Saunders, will be performed RICHARD CILLI & CLAIRE EDWARDES (AUSTRALIA) each evening as an invitation to see ENCOUNTER through a lens of the many varied dance cultures that exist in Western Sydney. Thanks to the PRELUDE artists, our dance revolutionaries: Peta Strachan and Jannawi Dance Clan; Pepa Molina RIVERSIDE THEATRES 28 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH, 2019 and musicians, Paco Lara and Antonio Soria; Aruna Gandhi; Billy Keohavong; Pacific Dreams; Feras Shaheen and his Recital was initiated by three-time APRA Art Music Award-winning percussionist, DIRECTOR Dabke dancing mother Mago Husari Claire Edwardes, and Helpmann Award-winning dancer, Richard Cilli, who were GIDEON OBARZANEK Shaheen; Diane Busuttil’s Feisty Femmes; looking to create a work that extended the limits of their performative abilities and PERFORMERS Forge Tap Quartet; Double Digits aka their craft. They approached acclaimed director and choreographer Gideon Obarzanek RICHARD CILLI, CLAIRE EDWARDES Frank and Paul Barbara, and Dance and Australia’s leading electro-pop composer Paul Mac to come on board to create an Makers Collective. FORM looks forward to intriguing production. In a piece originally entitled versUS, Richard and Claire were LIGHTING DESIGN presenting these artists to Sydney Festival interested in investigating their differences and similarities. Through the process BOSCO SHAW audiences in 2020. musical ideas were portrayed physically, and dance ideas musically. Shying away from COMPOSITION AND SOUND DESIGN obvious ways of combining the two forms, the two performers meet on territory outside PAUL MAC, CLAIRE EDWARDES their expertise: walking, running, playing games. Throughout the piece, the ambiguous PRODUCER relationship between the two performers intensifies. The outcomes are impressive, ERIN MILNE disturbing and wildly ecstatic. PRODUCTION MANAGER KEVIN NG

“RECITAL IS BEAUTIFULLY STRUCTURED AND MESMERISING WITH EDWARDES AND CILLI MAKING A FORMIDABLE DUO.” ELIZABETH ASHLEY - DANCE INFORMA, 28 FEBRUARY 2019

Image: Victor Frankowski, PRELUDE, Aruna Gandhi Image: Heidrun Löhr, RECITAL, Dance Bites 2019, Claire Edwardes and Richard Cilli 12 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 13 DANCE BITES 2019 DANCE BITES 2019

FORM DANCE PROJECTS AND RIVERSIDE PRESENT DANCE BITES 2019 PASSING IT ON LUCKY LARTEY/RYUICHI FUJIMURA

RIVERSIDE THEATRES 6 - 8 JUNE, 2019

HOW I PRACTICE MY RELIGION CHOREOGRAPHER/PERFORMER FULL CIRCLE CHOREOGRAPHER/PERFORMER RYUICHI FUJIMURA (AUSTRALIA/JAPAN) RYUICHI FUJIMURA LUCKY LARTEY (AUSTRALIA/GHANA) LUCKY LARTEY

Ryuichi Fujimura, a Sydney-based dance artist originally from Japan traces his personal LIGHTING DESIGNER & Originally from Ghana, Sydney-based dancer and choreographer Lucky Lartey draws DRAMATURG dance history and unpacks what is archived in his dancing body. Evolving from his love for TECHNICAL ADVISOR upon his knowledge of traditional rhythms and dance as well as his understanding of VICKI VAN HOUT dance, this work is dedicated to his first three dance teachers: Margaret Lasica, Caroline GUY HARDING contemporary movement practices to explore the longstanding relationship between hip English and Anastasi Siotas. hop culture and West African storytelling traditions. In this new solo, Lucky takes us on a SOUND DESIGNER PRODUCTION MANAGER personal journey revealing how hip hop has travelled full circle to Africa. BYRON MARK “As dancers, we gain our knowledge through interaction with teachers, choreographers FRANKIE CLARKE and peers, and accumulate every learning experience in our bodies like books in a “I want to create a work that highlights the tradition of storytelling in West Africa and LIGHTING DESIGNER & library. In making this solo, I wanted to open some of the books from my library in ACTING STAGE MANAGERS how it was used to pass on and share knowledge. How this tradition was then adopted PRODUCTION MANAGER order to share my journey and unravel what my body remembers.” Ryuichi Fujimura TYLER FITZPATRICK & AMBER SILK by hip hop culture as a tool for survival and a way of giving a voice to marginalised FRANKIE CLARKE young people.” Lucky Lartey ACTING STAGE MANAGERS TYLER FITZPATRICK & AMBER SILK

“…A DROLL DANCE PIECE WHICH INVOLVED “RYUICHI HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE EVEN “THE BOLD PHYSICALITY AND ATHLETICISM OF SPOKEN WORD AND IT WAS REALLY FUNNY - THE MOST DECORATIVE SEQUENCE SEEM LARTEY’S DANCE GIVE IT ARRESTING APPEAL.” THAT’S A RARE THING IN DANCE.” ESSENTIAL.” JILL SYKES - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, WILLIAM YANG VICKI VAN HOUT 6 JUNE 2019

Image: Heidrun Löhr, Dance Bites 2019, How I Practice My Religion, Ryuichi Fujimura Image: Dom O’Donnell, Dance Bites 2019, Full Circle, Lucky Lartey 14 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 15 DANCE BITES 2019 DANCE BITES 2019

FORM DANCE PROJECTS AND RIVERSIDE PRESENT DANCE BITES 2019 FORM DANCE PROJECTS AND RIVERSIDE PRESENT DANCE BITES 2019 A NIGHT’S GAME AUSTRALIA PREMIERE ALLEYNE DANCE (UK) MEA CULPA TOURED BY DANCE MAKERS COLLECTIVE (AUSTRALIA) CLOE FOURNIER (AUSTRALIA/FRANCE)

RIVERSIDE THEATRES 5 - 7 SEPTEMBER, 2019 RIVERSIDE THEATRES 18 - 19 OCTOBER, 2019

A Night’s Game reflects the turmoil and strife of human emotion when faced with the COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHY In Mea Culpa women stomp their feet and hiss in a quest for salvation, freedom and self- DIRECTOR/ CHOREOGRAPHER prospect of incarceration. Explore the mind’s journey as the contemplation of the loss of ALLEYNE DANCE liberation, taking the viewer on a journey of sensuous and absorbing visual dance theatre. CLOE FOURNIER freedom engulfs every waking moment. Kristina and Sadé bring to the stage dynamism PERFORMERS PERFORMERS and athletic strength delivered with grace and beauty. Inspired by true-life events, KRISTINA ALLEYNE AND SADE ALLEYNE This work sketches surrealistic dramas, played amongst a micro-society of female IMOGEN CRANNA, ISABELLA COLUCCIO, Alleyne Dance create a dark, atmospheric and abstract work that is as thrilling as it is PRODUCER bodies, which bears the pressures from an ever-present (in)visible power referred to NICOLA FORD, CLOE FOURNIER, ANNA powerful. The sisters’ fast paced and dynamic dance technique is moulded from working GRACE OKEREKE as IT. IT’s mission is to standardise the women’s image, mechanise their plasticity and McCULLA, NATALIE PELAREK, DANIELA with Akram Khan, Retina Dance Company and Ultima Vez. PRODUCTION MANAGER regulate their movement and behavioural patterns. This trans-human female community ZAMBRANO SALVATORE SCOLLO decides to defy the system by re-coding their shaping. Mea Culpa is a work that screams: MENTOR/DRAMATURG MUSIC DESIGN “Don’t let IT define you”. VICKI VAN HOUT SADE ALLEYNE, ALAN DICKER, DRAMATURG (1st DEVELOPMENT) MOBILISE (OPENING NIGHT CURTAIN RAISER) TOM NEILL “I remember the folk dances from my childhood where age or gender did not matter. PETER MAPLE MUSIC Everyone gathered and lost themselves in a moment of communal joy. For Mea Culpa LIGHTING DESIGNER MOBILISE is a Dance Makers Collective program to provide an opportunity for ALAN DICKER, SAMUEL KERRIDGE, I began to draw from the structures of these ancestral folk dances, from my French FRANKIE CLARKE local artists to learn new skills and train with a pioneering international artist or PAUL ENGLISH, ÓLAUFUR ARNALDS, cultural heritage, from Brittany in the North West Region of France, to realise a MUSIC COMPOSER team of artists. KEVIN MACLEOD, ARMAND AMAR & futuristic sci-fi trans-human context.” Cloé Fournier JAMES BROWN HAROUN TEBOUL SONG PRODUCER MENTOR CLOE [F] PROJECTS FAROOQ CHAUDHRY LIGHTING DESIGN “AN HOUR OF ASTONISHING ATHLETICISM… SALVATORE SCOLLO “THE COLLABORATOR, THIS WOMAN IN THE BLUE SHIMMERING THIS IS A VERY SOPHISTICATED AND CHOREOGRAPHER (MOBILISE) DRESS AND STILETTOES, IS THE EPITOME OF CHIC (EVEN CAREFULLY CHOREOGRAPHED SHOW.” ALLEYNE DANCE WITH A SHOWER CAP ON HER HEAD) YET IT IS APPARENT PERFORMERS (MOBILISE) THAT SHE IS TRAGIC, BROKEN, AND A PARODY OF ‘WOMAN’.” JILL SYKES - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, ESTHER PERRY, NAOMI REICHARDT, 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 TAREE SANSBURY, CLAIRE WINSOR, DR GARRY LESTER - FORM DANCE PROJECTS GUEST BLOG, CHRIS WADE, SARAH GOROCH, BONNIE CURTIS, BERYL LA, SABRINA 24 OCTOBER 2019 MUSZYNSKI Image: Irven Lewis, Dance Bites 2019, A Night’s Game, Kristina Alleyne & Sadé Alleyne Image: Alex Apt, Dance Bites 2019, Mea Culpa, Cloé Fournier 16 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 17 MEDIA PlatFORM – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RECITAL

“In Recital Edwardes and Cilli set about extending the limits of their craft. With assistance from director Gideon Obarzanek, sound designer Paul Mac and lighting designer Bosco Shaw they have done just that and in doing so, provided an exhilarating evening’s FORM Dance Projects auspices entertainment”. and co-produces projects with Julia Cotton - Sydney Morning Herald, 3 March 2019 creative development residencies and performance opportunities for “The work was rigorous and exhilarating.” professional artists. FORM also provides Lynne Lancaster - Arts Hub, 4 March 2019 mentoring opportunities and the “Recital is a work that you could listen to with your eyes closed, development of professional skills for or watch while not listening. But you don’t want to because the dance artists throughout their careers. interaction of the elements is full of delights.” Elle Evangelista - Dance Australia, 5 March 2019 In 2019, the heritage listed Parramatta Town Hall was offered as a studio venue facilitated by Riverside Theatres, PASSING IT ON courtesy of the City of Parramatta. FORM “A showcase of two refreshing and exciting pieces of work that was able to access the studio spaces come together to wake up the body and the spirit.” in the auditorium and Jubilee Room, Brianna McCarthy - Buzz from Sydney, 8 June 2019 to support creative developments and dance workshop programs supporting “Fujimura is charismatic and dances with love and feeling… it’s a professional artists in all stages of purely joyful experience… he dances without holding back and is their careers. consistently playful.” Brianna McCarthy - Buzz from Sydney, 8 June 2019 FORM facilitated the creative development of ENCOUNTER, ready for presentation A NIGHT’S GAME in 2019 and 2020 in regional NSW and Parramatta. We also gave the artists in “Kristina and Sadé are strong, athletic, yet highly graceful dancers the Dance Bites program and PRELUDE who truly deliver a powerful performance filled with professional the space and time to further develop and skill whilst bringing their own soul, courage and character.” rehearse their works for presentation. Yumma Khan - Weekend Notes, 8 September 2019 “A very strong and powerful work… A Night’s Game is a striking dynamic performance.” Lynne Lancaster - Dance Informa, 11 September 2019

MEA CULPA

“…fierce, fiery crucible, forging a theatrical dance performance hot enough to melt the preconceived truths of accepted wisdom.” Eric Shumsky - Sydney Arts Guide, 19 October 2019 “An unusual theatrical experience, Mea Culpa is compelling and provocative.” Catherine Skipper - South Sydney Herald, 21 March 2019 “There is very little traditional virtuosic display in this work, no leaping and few high kicks, but this belies a deep commitment to a tightly-knit ensemble of accomplished performers whose unrelenting persistence in forging a path toward self-actualisation is manifest in the complexity of the rhythmic footwork, which may to some seem simple, yet if one truly attends to it, is full of syncopation and dynamic cadence. It appears to be a hybrid of memory invoking French folk dance steps and structural frameworks conjoined with contemporary gestures.” Dr Garry Lester - FORM Dance Projects Guest Blog, 24 October 2019

TOTAL ANNUAL MEDIA LISTINGS 348

Image, Top: Heidrun Löhr, Dance Bites 2019, Full Circle, Lucky Lartey Image, Middle: Heidrun Löhr, Dance Bites 2019, RECITAL, Claire Edwardes and Richard Cilli Image, Bottom: Pedro Greig, RECITAL in creative development, Gideon Obarzanek and Richard Cilli Image: Victor Frankowski, PRELUDE artist, Billy Keohavong 18 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 19 STUDIO RESIDENCIES STUDIO RESIDENCIES PEPA MOLINA 4 - 8 March

FORM welcomed back Flamenco dance artist Pepa Molina for the development of her new work Perceptions for Dance Bites 2020. Pepa returned to the studio in May and June.

GRAB A DAY IN THE STUDIO! 1 - 30 March

FORM Dance Projects celebrated the inaugural March Dance, a collaborative project of Critical Path, DirtyFeet and ReadyMade Works, by offering independent artists one to three-day studio space in the Parramatta Town Hall over the month of March for the research/development/ rehearsal/sharing of a project. FORM welcomed into the studio Peta Strachan and the Jannawi Dance Clan, Vicki Van Hout and Jrisi Jusakos of Hathor Dance Studio.

RHIANNON NEWTON 15 - 18 April In 2019, FORM fostered several NARCI-FIXION EGOSYSTEM opportunities to provide professional ANTON AND BRIANNA KELL DEAN WALSH Prior to heading to Luxembourg for the and creative development for artists in 7 - 24 January 15 - 26 July “Dance is a party” programme, Rhiannon Parramatta Town Hall. CREATE SPACE DANCE RESIDENCY Newton prepared for her research (in partnership with ReadyMade Works) Ausdance NSW, Sydney Opera House, residency. She developed a solo work FORM Dance Projects exploring the interactions between memory Total Number of artists participating in Anton was back in the studio for the seed and movement, with a focus on the female studio residencies: 157 development of a new work with Brianna Dancer and choreographer Dean Walsh torso. Kell and composer Jai Pyne. The duet Number of Showings: 4 is the inaugural recipient of the Create delves into the psychology of ego and super Space Dance Residency. The residency is ego and is a deep physical dance exhibition a partnership initiative between Ausdance that investigates riotous movement, NSW, the Sydney Opera House and FORM physical characters and humorous Dance Projects, to provide supportive theatricality. residency space for artists who identify as living with disability. Dean used the two- week opportunity to continue developing his (rather epic) solo work, EgoSystem in collaboration with Andrew Batt-Rawden, which culminated in a studio showing for invited industry peers.

Image: Victor Frankowski, PRELUDE artists, Pepa Molina and Image: Freya Ludowici, Create Space Dance Residency, EgoSystem, Dean Walsh musicians, Paco Lara and Antonio Soria 20 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 21 STUDIO RESIDENCIES TransFORM – EDUCATION PROGRAM

FORM Dance Projects provides access and participation in dance culture for performing arts students and emerging artists in a vibrant education program. This aspirational education program underpins the artistic program and includes skills development workshops and masterclasses, matinee performances with Q & A sessions, auditions and a youth dance festival.

The students have the opportunity to interact with respected choreographers and dancers, investigate career pathways and develop artform appreciation.

OUT OF THE STUDIO MURMURATION FOUND DIRTYFEET OBSCURED CREATIVE LAB ANTON WITH SYDNEY ART QUARTET EMMA HARRISON & CALLUM MOONEY 11 - 15 November 18 - 25 November 9 - 27 September Director Sarah-Vyne Vassallo and Mentor FOUND is a new short dance work Out of the Studio offers emerging Liz Martin led a team of two performing commissioned by Sydney Art Quartet, choreographers an opportunity to begin artists, Briana Kell and Margot Politis, a choreographed by Anton, with dancers the development of new dance works. multimedia artist, M.Sunflower and two Cass Mortimer Eipper and Kristie Pike. Emerging choreographers take risks, sound designers, Annabel Tan and Glenn FOUND is a celebration of human spirit and explore their ideas in a theatre context McKenzie. These artists collaborated in connection. Out of the depths of darkness and share their work with an audience. an experimental workshop process fusing two souls find, protect and rebuild each FORM Dance Projects continues to artforms of movement, sound, photography other. Together they explore an intertwined partner with DirtyFeet on this program and video. The Obscured Creative and intimate dance of warmth, protection by providing studio space. This year, two Lab reflected on the obscurities and and joy. works, MADONNA (Emma Harrison) and invisibilities of unseen disability and illness. COSMOS (Callum Mooney) were in creative development.

Image: Heidrun Löhr, ENCOUNTER SOUTH, FLING Physical Theatre and Western Sydney exchange, Bega studio Image: Dom O’Donnell, Sharp Short Dance, Outstanding Duet Performance, Double Digits, Paul and Frank Barbara 22 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 23 CHOREOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP

LEARN THE REPERTOIRE, SEE THE SHOW FORM DANCE PROJECTS AND Learn the Repertoire, See the Show is RECITAL MASTERCLASS A NIGHT’S GAME SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY a unique program for dance students 2 MARCH 6 SEPTEMBER to learn the repertoire from each of the Dance Bites performances in a workshop PARTICIPANTS 14 PARTICIPANTS 26 TEACHERS 2 led by the presenting company. Following “The workshop furthered my this, students experience a matinee understanding and skill in connecting “The workshop expanded my knowledge, as performance and post show Q & A with the movement to sound, text and music in the movements we were taught were quite PARRAMATTA TOWN HALL 9 - 10 APRIL, 2019 artistic team. a way that I never experienced before.” different to anything I’ve seen before.” Australian Performing Arts Grammar Yr10 Student School, Yr 11 Student FORM Dance Projects presented the annual Choreographic Workshop in 2019 in FACILITATORS “I love contemporary, it is my strong partnership with Sydney Dance Company. This popular program provides HSC Dance COOPER TERRY “I found a love for the fine detail of point, and it was amazing to see it from a students with the unique opportunity to develop their choreographic skills under the FIONA JOPP movement, A brainteaser!” different perspective.” guidance of industry professionals. Mentored by Sydney Dance Company artists, the ALEXANDRA PANETTA AMPA Graduate 2018 BWSC Yr 9 Student practical workshop shared choreographic tools and techniques gleaned from the VIOLA LIDA “So fun and fresh!” “It helped me understand contemporary company’s methodology and productions. Encounter dancer dance in how you can use feelings to PARTICIPANTS 158 make movement instead of movement to In the immersive one-day workshop, students learnt new ways to generate interesting TEACHERS 17 feelings.” material and movements, and developed their confidence and creativity in composition. SCHOOLS 18 PASSING IT ON NAISDA Student, Certificate IV The workshop program also included insights into Rafael Bonachela’s artistic process 7 JUNE through viewing and discussing excerpts of Sydney Dance Company work with the artists. PARTICIPANTS 25 EXPRESSIONS DANCE “It taught the students a new way to choreograph.” HSC Dance Teacher TEACHERS 2 COMPANY MASTERCLASS “The workshop expanded my knowledge as 13 JUNE “It was interesting to see the different compositional tasks- they worked well to the movements we were taught were quite Led by Amy Hollingsworth and generate unique movement.” Elise Wilson - Dance Teacher Winmalee High School different to anything I’ve seen before.” Georgie Bailey Yr10 Student “Can you take away techniques or ideas to help inform the way that you teach dance to PARTICIPANTS 19 students at your school? 100%.” Nicole Taylor - Dance Teacher Glenwood High School “Interesting and so much fun.” TEACHERS 2 Yr9 Student “I found most interesting working together with other schools, a bonding experience.” “It was a wonderful experience that was MEA CULPA Marsden High School - Yr 11 Student very beneficial.” 18 OCTOBER Yr9 Student “I learnt how to think outside the box and manipulate movements in an abstract way.” PARTICIPANTS 9 Mount St Joseph - Yr 11 Student “I feel like being from a ballet background TEACHERS 1 I am always very stiff so this helped me “I learnt I can seek help if I’m ever stuck.” Moree Seconday College - Yr 11 Student relax a bit.” Yr10 Student Image: Lidia Crisafulli, A Night’s Game, Kristina Alleyne and Sadé Alleyne Image: Heidrun Löhr, Choreographic Workshop, Sydney Dance Company and students 24 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 25 SHARP SHORT DANCE

FORM DANCE PROJECTS AND RIVERSIDE PRESENTS SHARP SHORT DANCE

HEATS 12 - 14 NOVEMBER FINAL 16 NOVEMBER

Sharp Short Dance cultivates talent and performance by choreographers and dancers aged 21 and under. The festival inspires and educates young performers to strive for their own artistic excellence and encourages active participation in dance at all levels and styles including contemporary dance, ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap and cultural dance. Since its launch, the festival has hosted hundreds of young performers, with many returning each year to strive for artistic excellence, develop their choreographic and performance skills, meet like-minded young artists, and network with peer and industry professionals. Unlike other performance environments such as eisteddfods and local festivals, Sharp Short Dance encourages young people to take control of their creative visions under the guidance and mentorship of professionals. The winners of the 12th annual Sharp Short Dance festival were announced on Saturday 16th November following an impressive final event held at Riverside Theatres. The judging panel included members of the dance industry including Cadi McCarthy (Catapult Dance), Omer Backley-Astrachan (coordinator of Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year) David Clarkson (Stalker SHARP SHORT DANCE AWARDS Theatre) and Lee Brummer (IL Dance, Sweden). Awards were presented by Parramatta Councillor Bill Tyrrell and the host of the event, dance artist Kay Armstrong. Best Young Choreographer Audience Choice Award TOTAL CHOREOGRAPHERS 60 Hannah Potts (Neglect) Choreographer Brittney Webb and TOTAL PERFORMERS 147 performers Kayla Richards, Caeley TOTAL PARTICIPANTS 207 “This is where you want to be if you are keen to spot the dancers Outstanding Female Dancer Richards, Amelia Tu, Isabella Soria, Samya TOTAL THEATRE AUDIENCE 319 who are going to be the familiar faces of the future.” Amari Leiva Urzua (Camelando) Kerde, Katherine Vu, Jade Do, Amelie TOTAL WORKS 58 Vicki Van Hout, Wrapping Up the Year, 27 November Pritchard, Mia Pritchard and Trinity Brooke TOTAL FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION 549 “The most appealing part was being able to showcase my Outstanding Male Dancer (Disquietude) MEDIA LISTINGS 85 choreography in front of an audience as well as making new Kai Taylor (Resilience) friends with the same passions as me!” Sydney Dance Company (Pre-Professional SHARP SHORT DANCE DONORS Participant Outstanding Solo Performance Year Secondment) Olivia Hadley (Uprooted) Saskia Ellis (Innervation), Abigail Gasson Professor Peter Hutchings “Such a great festival with a very warm and inclusive vibe. (Claustrophobia) Pamela Thornton The participants will remember this occasion for life!” Outstanding Duet Performance Narelle Lewis Judge Paul and Frank Barbara Catapult Dance Secondment Alissa Bruce “Not only are the performances of the young people (Identically Different) Isaac Clark (Long Black Two), Olivia Stirling Fitzgerald Hudson awesome, but you always ensure that the production is Hadley (Uprooted) not just city, state, Australian but a world class Outstanding Ensemble Performance production that we can all be proud to be from Western Choreographer Lukah Eveleigh and Dance Makers Collective Secondment Sydney. You and the performers do this city proud.” performers Maeve Smith, Lukah Eveleigh, Mahlia King (Meow) Clr Bill Tyrrell, City of Parramatta Meghann Burton, Kasey Brown, Monique Sullivan and Billie-Ann Austin (4:18) Stalker Theatre Company Secondment Reina Takeuchi (Concrete Plastic Clay)

Seet Dance Intensive Sponsorship Opal Russell (Riffle of Rhapsody)

Image, left: Dom O’Donnell, Sharp Short Dance, Lukah Eveleigh Image, top right : Dom O’Donnell, Sharp Short Dance, Catapult Dance Secondment, Isaac Clark Image: Dom O’Donnell, Sharp Short Dance, Outstanding Female Dancer, Amari Leiva Urzua Image, bottom right: Dom O’Donnell, Sharp Short Dance, Sydney Dance Company PPY secondment, Saskia Ellis 26 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 27 INFORM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CULTURAL PERFORMING ARTS NETWORK

BLOGGER IN RESIDENCE VICKI VAN HOUT

FORM Dance Projects’ resident blogger DIGGING DEEP (but are not exclusive to) high legs, the Vicki Van Hout received the Australia 8 MAY non-specific vacant stare and the pointed Council Dance Award 2019. Vicki’s deeply foot jump. Let us not forget the haughty, informed blog has delighted readers As usual the stage fright has ramped long neck, housed atop the floating, since its inception in 2013. Throughout up a notch. People are always amazed floppy body, unencumbered by strain or the year, indigenous choreographer when I share this all-consuming fact. effort, moved to move through release- Van Hout blogged for FORM about And no, at 51 it doesn’t get easier. As based momentum. It is refreshing to see all things dance from her unique each day passes and I’m nearer opening that Nick has not acquiesced. Yes, he is perspective. Van Hout’s blog contributes night I feel myself metamorphose into literally turning dance on its head… valuable reputable discourse within the my own version of Hyde. Or is that Dr dance community and is a perceptive, Jekyl? Who cares, I am riding that all- WRAPPING UP THE YEAR WITH entertaining and articulate window to the consuming rollercoaster of insecurity, A DANCE COMPENDIUM dance world for a larger audience. have just slowly chugged up the top of the 27 NOVEMBER stupidly steep incline and am hurtling in BRING IT ON! what feels like that speedy descent into Us 50, by contrast, pulled on the 28 FEBRUARY madness. I am giddy. heartstrings of all the long-term Sydney Dance Company loyalists by bringing back Company Legs On The Wall produced But what feels like my inevitable demise an array of performers from past decades. The Man With The Iron Neck, which is not why I feel inspired to get up at the I sat in front of a fellow supporter and played in the Drama Theatre of the Opera crack o’ dawn. It is because I am getting together we uttered in recognition all of House, so expectation was fulfilled, as ready for the inevitable onslaught that those bodies as they appeared on stage. aerial components ensued aplenty. The goes hand in hand with performance The choreography was almost pedestrian set brought the heavens into the venue, and that is the press slash marketing in comparison to Bonachela’s. Almost. allowing access to other times: the time junket. The barrage of interviews aimed Afterward a few people remarked that before birth with two actor/ dancers (Kyle at bringing bums on seats. I received a they wanted to see more from those Shilling and Caleena Sansbury) floated taster last week as I was interviewed for a veterans. On the contrary, the simplicity in the air as if in an amniotic sack; a time podcast titled Delving into Dance. I always revealed the refined elegance that never straddling life and death as the pivotal come out of these things a little worse leaves the body, long after retirement has character Bear (Kyle Shilling) literally for wear, as I tend to over share and find taken the overt athleticism. This contrast teetered on the brink of his mortality myself spilling my guts like a Catholic was highlighted when the stage swelled from the highest branch of a tree (which penitent at a two a.m. confessional, to a crowded fifty, supplemented by a cast CPAN aims to promote culturally diverse The Cultural Performing Arts Network Q&A PARRAMASALA 2019 successfully capitalised on the dimensions waiting for the obligatory two Hail Marys of predominantly non-dancer audience arts and its legitimate place within the took new directions in 2019 starting with THE SURVIVAL KIT OF THE of the drama theatre to appear almost to absolve my chequered past. participants. It was a very clever tactic broader contemporary Australian arts a Q&A facilitated by FORM in partnership CULTURAL DANCER monolithic); and a time where life and to create a sparse physical score as it practice. The network represents cultural with Parramasala. The Q&A moderated death coexist as Shilling’s character BETWEEN TINY CITIES allowed us to simultaneously replay our performers from across Western and by Laura Osweiler of Amara Dances and PRINCE ALFRED PARK slipped through the folds of a large well- 8 AUGUST fondest memories of each former star. Greater Sydney from diverse cultural Agnès Michelet featured four panel artists, PARRAMATTA worn couch to become a mother’s living From Sheree da Costa, who lit up our TV backgrounds including Aboriginal Lucky Lartey (founder of Lucky African SATURDAY 16 MARCH memory, played by Ursula Yovich, who is What do I love about Nick Powers’ screens in the 1970s as the living flame in and Torres Strait Island, Maori, Indian, Dance), Aruna Gandhi (Bharatanatyam also credited as writer for the production. Between Tiny Cities? It is quietly but the natural gas ad, to Bill Pengelly, who Cambodian, Vietnamese, Iraqi, Chinese, dance artist and teacher), Mishel Finlayson From community work to studio practice, definitely turning contemporary dance went on to become rehearsal director of Lebanese, Sudanese, Burundian, (founder of Sambaliscious) and Jrisi from entertaining to making, from teaching The set features a detachable Hills on its head. What makes his work Bangarra Dance Theatre, to Katherine Rwandan, Peruvian, Colombian, Chilean, Jusakos (founder of Hathor Dance Studio). to performing, how do artists navigate Hoist, which denotes a quintessentially so impressive, so innovative, is that Dunn and Lea Francis, who also went Argentinian, Armenian and Polish. The depth of advice they had to offer has the multifaceted spheres of “cultural” Australian tale and from which the actors Powers has utilised the street form on to dance with Bangarra. I spied Kip inspired FORM to produce a series of dance practice to earn a living? The swing. Although it’s way more sturdy to unpack the abstract narratives and Gamblin, who now graces our screens podcasts to be launched over 2020-2022. panel generously shared their career than the relic I have in my backyard, with states of being normally reserved for on various long running soaps, and wife achievements and challenges. The depth missing rungs its construction reminds the modernist and post-modernist Linda, who runs the pre-professional FORM also hosted: in residence Lucky of advice they had to offer was invaluable. me of an adolescent smile badly in need genres. More often than not, as soon program at SDC. I was chuffed when Lartey towards the presentation of his new This CPAN event was an inspiration for of an orthodontist. Samuel James’ video as an artist from a background other Bradley Chatfield featured in a quirky work Full Circle as part of the Passing It continued conversation within the network component was absolutely stunning. The than the usual mainstream Eurocentric heel-toe walking combination, my last On Dance Bites double bill followed by Billy and broader transmission of knowledge. entire length of the back wall served as concert stage offerings is programmed memory of him rehearsing ‘full out’ Keohavong towards the presentation of a “At first I was a little nervous but soon a projection surface which took us inside within the contemporary genre I see the amongst a sea of markers in preparation short solo as part of PRELUDE in the 2020 felt right at home being surrounded the family home, transporting us to the obligatory inclusion of one, some, or for a Sydney Festival First Night event Sydney Festival. Columbian-born Daniela by passionate, talented cultural artists dense scrub of the bush and revealing more of the markers that qualify as real which rounded up around midnight. His Zambrano, director of Plonova Dance and who have encountered the same the height of that tree which had taken (at dance appear in those works. These real irrepressible energy was (and is still) a performer in Cloé Fournier’s Dance struggles, achievements, frustrations least) two lives. or authentic dance signposts include representative of a bright spark amongst Bites Mea Culpa was the CPAN featured and challenges. I walked out feeling very spent sparklers. artist in 2019. inspired myself.” Jrisi Jusakos, Facebook 16 March

Image: Heidrun Löhr, Full Circle, Lucky Lartey 28 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 29 APPENDIX ONE

ARTIST LIST 2019

Abbey Craig Catherine Zhang Glenn McKenzie Kyara Darcy Priyanka Bhattacharya Abigail Gasson Caylan Spendlove Gozel Maryana Lara Scrivens Quirine Van Nespin Adelina Larsson Charlize Newton Grace Okareke Laura Duan Raynen O’Keefe Adriana Perera Chloe Millen Hailey Ludick Laura Osweiler Reina Takeuchi Aisha Barr Chris Wade Hannah Pandel Lauren Rutherford Renata Commisso Alethia Kalitsi Christie Pike Hannah Potts Lawrencea Mateariki Rhiannon Newton Alexandra Knox Christopher Wade Harper Goldthor Lee Brummer Richard Cilli Alexandra Mitchell Claire Edwardes Heidrun Löhr Leslie Abrahams Rob McCredie Alexandra Pannetta Claire Gammon Helen Chen Liz Martin Rory Warne Alkibbah Claire Claire Winsor Hermez Mariam Lola Stratigos Rosalie Brice Allie Graham Cloé Fournier Imogen Cranna Luca Yi Rubi McGill Allira Johnson Cooper Terry Isaac Clark Lucky Lartey Ryuichi Fujimura Amanda Brown Corinne Scott Isabel Estrella Lukah Eveleigh Sabrina Muszynksi Amari Leiva Urzua Courtney Aubin Isabella Coluccio Luke Minness Sada Jessica Amber Dempsey Cyrus Meurant Isabella Delucia Luu Jessica Sadé Alleyne Amelia Scott Daniela Zambrano Isabella Soria Lydia Hevey Salvatore Scollo Amelia Tu Danni Cook Isobel Munns M.Sunflower Sam James Amelie Pritchard David Capra Jacob Williams Mackenzie Bryant Sam Wood Amy Hollingsworth David Clarkson Jade Do Madalyn Holloway Sami Smith Anahita Shoree Davie Olivia Jai Pyne Madison Terry Samya Kerde Andrew Batt-Rawden Dean Walsh James Beck Maeve Smith Sarah Goroch Andrew Jezek Denis Beaubois James Brown Mahlia King Sarah Kalule Anna Albert Diana Sussman James Pensini Malena Searles Sarah-Vyne Vassallo Anna McCulla Diane Busuttil Jane McKernan Margot Politis Saskia Ellis Annabel Tan Diya Sudhir Jannah Allen Martin del Amo Shar Mitchell Anton Dom O’Donnell Jannawi Dance Clan Maya Gavish Sharyne Jewell Arsheen Kaur Ebony Constable Jasmine Patanjali Megan Arkley Sienna O’Neill Aruna Gandhi Ebony Ryan-Miners Jayden Wall Meghann Burton Simran Chellaney Audrey Jagle Eliza Cooper Jemimah Perry Melinda Tyquin Sophia Stratigos Ava Jones Eliza Zullo Jemma Malik Merza Marian Sophie McClellan Avalon Smith Elizabeth Vowles Jessica Conneely Mia Pritchard Sophie Swan Badal Ishtar Elke Black Jessica Wells Mikaela Bayliss Sovann Vanissa Beryl La Ella-Rose Titterton Jia-Wei Zhu Mikaela Wu Tamisha Deklerk Bethany Pham Ellyn Gwillim Jodi Phillis Mikayla Nangle Tara Adamsons Bilal Hafda Emalyn Knight Joshua O’Connor Miranda Wheen Tara Robertson Billie Sharratt Emily Flannery Jrisi Jusakos Mischel Finlayson Taree Sansbury Billie-Ann Austin Emma Harrison Julia Pollock Monique Sullivan Tarissa Williams Billy Keohavong Emma Saunders Julie-Anne Long Naomi Reichardt Tatjana Reid Bindi Mutiara Erica-Rose Jeffrey Kaelani Brown Narelle Benjamin Tek Iyla DANCE CLASSES FOR ADULTS Bodhi Turner Esme Barker Kai Taylor Natalie Baily Tobar Adriana Bonnie Curtis Esther Perry Kanako Delaney Natalie Pelarek Trinity Brooke Bosco Shaw Eva Lin Karen Nguyen Neale Whittaker Tyra Riley Brianna Kell Eve Baird Karen Okuda Neve Simms Vanessa Luong Bridget Wall Fausto Brusamolino Kasey Brown Nguyen Alanny Vanessa You CENTENARY UNITING CHURCH DANCE CLASSES FOR OVER 55s DANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH Brittney Webb Felicity Castagna Kate Flatley Nguyen Carmen Veronique Serret NORTH PARRAMATTA PARKINSON’S Byron Mark Feras Shaheen Katherine Vu Nicola Ford Vicki Van Hout Fun and creative dance classes led by Cadi McCarthy Fiona Jopp Katie Garman Olivia Hadley Victoria Lewis 15 OCTOBER - 17 DECEMBER Diane Busuttil. Fun and creative dance classes led by Caeley Richards Fiona Larkin Kay Armstrong Omer Villanueva Fiona Diane Busuttil in partnership with Dance Kayla Richards Backley-Astrachan Viola Iida FORM is delighted to launch dance classes Calissa Smith Fiona Malone for Parkinson’s Australia. No previous Keila Terencio Opal Russell Xara Xaineddine from contemporary to tap, to disco, for Callum Mooney Frank Barbara dance experience is necessary! Kira Fort Ophelia Andrews Yasmin Brock adults who are eager to dance in a joyful Carina Santomingo Frankie Clarke Gabriela Green Olea Kirti Mukesh Paul Barbara Zachary Lopez and creative spirit. Each weekly session starts with a class Carl Sciberras Gabrielle Rose Koazal Mirna Paul Mac Zara Reynolds specifically designed for people diagnosed Carla Zimbler Classes get the blood flowing and the Georgia Burns Kristen Burrows Pepa Molina Zoe Morgan with Parkinson’s disease. Carers, friends Carmen Yih body dancing. They include soft stretches Georgie Bailey Kristie Pike Peta Strachan and family members are welcome. Cass Mortimer Eipper suited to everyone’s ability, moving to Cassidy Jephtha Gideon Obarzanek Kristina Alleyne Pola Fanous classic tunes and interacting with other In 2019, Diane Busuttil was assisted by participants in a social setting. Participants dance artist and teacher Jia-Wei Zhu, who are invited to perform with the over 55s could guide participants in both English dance troupe, The Feisty Femmes & and Mandarin. ARTISTS IN THE PROGRAM: 317 Fellows. CPAN: 903 TOTAL: 1270 “I loved Diane’s over 55s dance classes. LETTERS OF SUPPORT PROVIDED BY FORM TO ARTISTS: 25 They were so important to health and well-being.” Participant Images: Dom O’Donnell, Dance Classes for Adults, Leader: Diane Busuttil 30 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 31 APPENDIX TWO APPENDIX FOUR

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT ONLINE ENGAGEMENT EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT PARTICIPATION

FESTIVAL AUDIENCE FORM website visits 12,960 EDUCATION AND ENCOUNTER SOUTH 300 FORM website pageviews 23,532 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FORM Facebook likes 2,087 THEATRE AUDIENCE FORM Facebook engagement 33,728 Cloe Fournier open classes 5 Recital 247 FORM Enews audience 1,023 EDC Masterclass 19 Passing It On 226 FORM Youtube views 676 Choreographic Workshops 158 Watch the Film See the Show 4 FORM Instagram engage 2,027 Dance for Parkinson’s classes 50 A Night’s game 281 FORM Twitter 552 Seniors classes 25 Mea Culpa 218 CPAN Facebook likes 477 CPAN Q&A 6 Dinner Party (Riverside) 311 CPAN Facebook followers 568 Recital Masterclass 14 Sharp Short Dance 319 Learn the Repertoire Passing it On 27 TOTAL 1606 Riverside Facebook likes 19,550 Learn the Repertoire Riverside Twitter followers 3,660 A Night’s game 30 STUDIO AUDIENCE Riverside Instagram 2,688 Learn the Repertoire Mea Culpa 10 Lucky Lartey showing 6 Sharp Short Dance Works 58 OOTS showing (BrandX) 142 Sydney Festival Facebook 146,000 Sharp Short Dance participants 207 Create Space showing 8 Sydney Festival Instagram 47,400 Artists in Residence 157 Mea Culpa showing 9 Sydney Festival EDMs 91,800 Encounter Bega Intensive April 22 FINANCIALS TOTAL 165 Sydney Festival Media 32 Encounter Bega Intensive September 12 TOTAL AUDIENCES 2071 SYO Socials Followers 8,625 THIS IS AN ABRIDGED VERSION OF FORM DANCE PROJECTS 2019 AUDIT. Four Winds Socials Followers 4,153 TOTAL 800 FULL VERSION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE ACNC WEBSITE. Kabuku PR Media engagement 348 PRINT Pulse story 1 Pulse audience reach 97,000 Riverside Season Brochures (3) 24,000 Sydney Festival Programs 140,000 TOTAL 498,886 Sydney Festival WS Programs 5,000 Sydney Festival Street Posters 500 Sydney Festival Hand-Flyers 2,000 Four Winds Spring Festival Program 1,000

TOTAL 172,500

WEB STATISTICS APPENDIX THREE WEBSITE TRAFFIC JAN – DEC 2019

32 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 33 Statement of Surplus or Deficit and Statement of Financial Position As at 31 December 2019 Other Comprehensive Income Form Dance Projects Incorporated For the year ended 31 December 2019 Form Dance Projects Incorporated Note 2019 2018 $ $

Note 2019 2018 Assets $ $ Current Revenue 4 563,490 338,401 Cash and cash equivalents 5 431,962 264,018 Other income 4 13,758 12,737 Trade and other receivables 6 440 7,737 Administration expenses (38,369) (14,802) Other assets 7 5,212 2,084 Legal and governance expenses (306) (636) Current assets 437,614 273,839 Marketing expenses (26,503) (20,232) Total assets 437,614 273,839 Employee benefits expense 9 (197,880) (204,855) Liabilities Production expenses (315,001) (122,334) Current Deficit before income tax (811) (11,721) Trade and other payables 8 58,100 66,697 Income tax expense 3.5 - - Employee provisions 9.2 13,995 6,908 Deficit for the year (811) (11,721) Other liabilities 10 302,676 143,000 Other comprehensive income for the year, net Current liabilities 374,771 216,605 of income tax - - Non-current Total comprehensive loss for the year (811) (11,721) Employee provisions 9.2 14,948 7,827 Non-current liabilities 14,948 7,827 The above statement is an extract from the full set of financial statements which can be found on Total liabilities 389,719 224,432 the ACNC or FORM Dance Projects' website. Net Assets 47,895 49,407 Equity General funds 47,895 49,407 Total equity 47,895 49,407

The above statement is an extract from the full set of financial statements which can be found on the ACNC or FORM Dance Projects' website.

34 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 35 Statement of Changes in Equity Statement of Cash Flows For the year ended 31 December 2019 For the year ended 31 December 2019 Form Dance Projects Incorporated Form Dance Projects Incorporated

Note Note 2019 2018 General Total $ $ Funds Equity $ $ Operating activities Balance at 1 January 2018 61,128 61,128 Receipts from: Deficit for the year (11,721) (11,721) • Customers 175,727 47,362 Other comprehensive income - - • Donors 1,050 675 Total comprehensive loss for the year (11,721) (11,721) • Government grants 618,860 394,460 Balance at 31 December 2018 49,407 49,407 • Interest income 770 1,275 Balance at 1 January 2019 49,407 49,407 Payments to clients, suppliers and employees (628,463) (400,379) Adjustment to retained earnings (701) (701) Net cash provided by operating activities 167,944 43,393 Adjusted balance at 1 January 2019 48,706 48,706 Net change in cash and cash equivalents 167,944 43,393 Deficit for the year (811) (811) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 264,018 220,625 Other comprehensive income - - Cash and cash equivalents, end of year 5 431,962 264,018 Total comprehensive loss for the year (811) (811) Balance at 31 December 2019 47,895 47,895 The above statement is an extract from the full set of financial statements which can be found on the ACNC or FORM Dance Projects' website. The above statement is an extract from the full set of financial statements which can be found on the ACNC or FORM Dance Projects' website.

36 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019 37 PARTNERS, SUPPORTERS & SPONSORS

PRINCIPAL PARTNERS

FORM Dance Projects Incorporated is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW

PROGRAM PARTNERS DESIGN

PR AGENCY FORM DANCE PROJECTS WORKS WITH SPONSORS

Alleyne Dance Expressions Dance Company Ausdance NSW Ausdance NSW French Embassy, Sydney Bloch Australia Council for the Arts Information & Cultural Exchange Capezio Australian Cultural Fund Joan Penrith Performing and Catapult Dance Blacktown Arts Visual Arts Dance Australia Bundanon Trust Parramasala Dance Central Bureau of Works ReadyMade Works Dance Makers Collective WEBSITE DESIGNER Campbelltown Arts Centre Sydney Opera House DirtyFeet Cloé [F] Projects TAFE NSW Energetiks Critical Path The Substation Parramatta Artists Studios Cultural Performing Arts Network UNSW Seet Dance Dance Makers Collective Western Sydney Business Chamber Stalker Theatre DirtyFeet Western Sydney University Sydney Dance Company Ensemble Offspring Youth Connections Village Nation

FORM DANCE PROJECTS INCORPORATED

PARRAMATTA HERITAGE AND INFORMATION CENTRE PO BOX 3636 PHONE: 02 9806 5609 346A CHURCH STREET PARRAMATTA NSW 2150 PARRAMATTA NSW 2124 FORM.ORG.AU | [email protected]

Image: Heidrun Löhr, ENCOUNTER, Emma Saunders and Western Sydney Ensemble 38 FORM | ANNUAL REPORT 2019