Intercultural Indigenous Choreographic labs

For Marrugeku, trans-Indigenous and intercultural exchange and international dialogue are critical strategies to develop new approaches to contemporary dance. The IICL series (Sydney 2009, Broome 2010, Auckland 2011, Noumea 2016) has seen two contemporary guest choreographers in each lab share their knowledge and culturally informed creative practices with some of the Asia-Pacific regions most talented independent artists who are creating dance in indigenous contexts.

The two week long laboratories have drawn together contemporary choreographers from West Africa and contemporary Indigenous dancers and choreographers from Aotearoa/New Zealand, Australia and the Asia/Pacific region to create a unique laboratory process that explores notions of contemporary dance theatre in Indigenous circumstances.

The laboratories have been curated by Dalisa Pigram and Rachael Swain, Marrugeku’s co-artistic directors and form part of a 5 year strategy to explore resonances and differences in contemporary Indigenous performing arts contexts around the world.

For regionally-based Marrugeku this international dialogue about creative questions central to its work is critical for the development of the Company’s dance practice. The experience is also invaluable for the independent dance artists involved, enabling them to grow their skills so as to be able to develop innovative new work in their own right and their own culturally specific conditions.

For Marrugeku, trans-Indigenous and intercultural exchange and international dialogue are critical strategies to develop new approaches to contemporary dance. The IICL series (Sydney 2009, Broome 2010, Auckland 2011, Noumea 2016) has seen two contemporary guest choreographers in each lab share their knowledge and culturally informed creative practices with some of the Asia-Pacific regions most talented independent artists who are creating dance in indigenous contexts.

The two week long laboratories have drawn together contemporary choreographers from West Africa and contemporary Indigenous dancers and choreographers from Aotearoa/New Zealand, Australia and the Asia/Pacific region to create a unique laboratory process that explores notions of contemporary dance theatre in Indigenous circumstances.

The laboratories have been curated by Dalisa Pigram and Rachael Swain, Marrugeku’s co-artistic directors and form part of a 5 year strategy to explore resonances and differences in contemporary Indigenous performing arts contexts around the world.

For regionally-based Marrugeku this international dialogue about creative questions central to its work is critical for the development of the Company’s dance practice. The experience is also invaluable for the independent dance artists involved, enabling them to grow their skills so as to be able to develop innovative new work in their own right and their own culturally specific conditions.

IICL4 – NOUMEA, 2016

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IICL3 – AUCKLAND, 2011

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IICL2 – BROOME 2010

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IICL1 SYDNEY, 2009

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