An Act of Now 2012
An Act of Now was the award-winning debut production from Chunky Move's second artistic director, Anouk van Dijk. On stage a glasshouse stood isolated, smoke its only visible inhabitant. In a moment of precise, dynamic movement, the veil of smoke was broken to reveal seven dancers who filled the space, drawn to, yet confined by its boundaries. Originally conceived for and performed on Melbourne’s iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl stage, the audience listened in on headphones as Van Dijk’s intense physical choreography unfolded within the glasshouse, creating a deeply immersive and intimate audience experience.
Creative Team
Concept, Choreography & Direction Anouk van Dijk
Composition & Sound Design Marcel Wierckx
Costume Design Anna Cordingley
Lighting Design Niklas Pajanti
Set Realisation Michael Carr
Assistant to the Choreographer Coleman Pester
Original Performers Peter Cseri, Leif Helland, Stephanie Lake, Lauren Langlois, Alya Manzart, James Vu Anh Pham, Niharika Senapati, Nina Wollny
Additional Touring Performer Joel Bray
Artistic Director Anouk van Dijk
Executive Producer Catherine Jones
Business and Program Manager Hillary Coyne
Production Manager Michael Carr
Stage Manager Blair Hart
Assistant Stage Manager (Melbourne) Roxzan Bowes
Sound Operation (Melbourne) Marco Cher-Gibard
Lighting Operation (Melbourne) Johnboy Davidson
Lighting Technician/Operator (German Tour) Claus Den Hartog
World Premiere
17 October 2012 Melbourne
Presented by Chunky Move and Melbourne Festival in association with Arts Centre Melbourne
Touring Season
2017 Hamburg, Darmstadt
Awards
2013 The Age Critics Award For Best Major New Australian Work at the Melbourne Festival
2013 Green Room Award For Best Concept and Realisation
2013 Green Room Award For Best Ensemble
2013 Green Room For Best Design Niklas Pajanti (Lighting)
“Beautiful and risky, disturbing and passionate.” Stage Whispers. Read More.
“An Act of Now is a genuinely exhilarating work; dynamic, vigorous, kinetic and thought provoking.” Arts Hub. Read More.
“An Act of Now does more than just herald a changing of the guard. It signals that Chunky Move will continue to push boundaries as a cutting-edge dance company.” The Age. Read More.
A Note from Anouk van Dijk
During my first months in Melbourne I started to connect the old with the new, continuing an investigation I had begun in the Netherlands reflecting on my own cultural identity. I now look ahead to unknown territory, using familiar stepping-stones to discover new insights into a society that is in many ways similar to my own, but that is at the same time profoundly different; because of its geography; its inhabitants; its history; its environment; and because of its deep connection with the land. Now planted here – An Act of Now.
In rehearsal we began a conversation on art, society and the meaning of movement. What became apparent was that despite the perceived differences in our culture, we share in Europe and Australia many of the same ideals, concerns and challenges. Our discussions revealed a group of individuals, disconcerted, but not disillusioned, with the current state of their community, country and the wider global picture.
The first line in my notebook for the new work reads: “We are living in a very passionate world where people take a lot of risks”. This notion causes both excitement and pain. In big cities we live in close proximity to each other and this proximity leads to certain expectations as to how we should interact and behave as a community. Surprisingly, we mostly remain tolerant and understanding, where internally it might all be chaos, a desire to explode, revolt or escape. I admire the human capacity to cope, be creative, resilient and persevering, while simultaneously being deeply concerned by the sudden eruptions of violence, selfishness and intolerance that is reflected all around us.
In this collision of emotions, conversations and movement, An Act of Now found its shape. It is at times a dark and questioning piece, imbued with a sense of anticipation and hope for what lies ahead.
L-R: Niharika Senapati, James Vu Anh Pham, Leif Helland, Nina Wollny, Alya Manzart, Stephanie Lake, Lauren Langlois, Peter Cseri Image: Jeff Busby
L-R: Stephanie Lake, Nina Wollny, Peter Cseri (background), Leif Helland, Niharika Senapati Image: Jeff Busby
