Connected 2011

Jul 23

Teaming up with Californian artist Reuben Margolin, Chunky Move’s Gideon Obarzanek created an experience in which dance and kinetic installation explored the connections between the human and the machine, the body and sculpture. Margolin’s startlingly live sculptural works – constructed from wood, re-cycled plastic, paper and steel – transcend their concrete forms once set into motion, appearing as natural waveforms in a weightless kinetic flow. Suspended by hundreds of fine strings receiving information from multiple camshafts and wheels, his sculptures reveal in articulate detail the impulses of whatever they are coupled to.

With Connected, the subtle impulses behind Margolin's kinetic sculptures were people – athletic and agile dancers’ bodies twisting and hurtling through space. Beginning with simple movements and hundreds of tiny pieces, the dancers built their performance while they constructed the vast sculpture in real time. During the performance, these basic elements and simple physical connections quickly evolved into complex structures and relationships.

Creative Team
Direction & Choreography Gideon Obarzanek
Sculpture Reuben Margolin
Composition Oren Ambarchi & Robin Fox
Lighting Design Benjamin Cisterne
Costume Design Anna Cordingley

Original Performers Stephanie Lake, Alisdair Macindoe, Josh Mu, Marnie Palomares, Harriet Ritchie, Joseph Simons

Artistic Director Gideon Obarzanek
Executive Producer Rachael Azzopardi
Business and Program Manager Hillary Coyne
Production Manager Chris Mercer
Stage Manager Josh Sherrin
Sound Operation Nick Roux

World Premiere
15 March 2011 Melbourne

Touring Seasons
2011 Sydney, Seoul, Durham, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Terre Haute, West Lafayette
2012 Los Angeles, Middletown, North Adams, San Diego, Scottsdale, Seattle

“Chunky Move do it with a hard-edged impact and design originality that makes them particularly memorable.” Manchester Evening News