the lines of birds 2014
In a first for the Next Move program, It Cannot Be Stopped brought together three of Australia’s rising creative talents –Atlanta Eke, Benjamin Hancock and Paea Leach – each of whom performed in their own work, taking as their starting point their philosophical, personal and conceptual approaches to performance making.
Showcasing three works across three spaces, Atlanta Eke performed Fountain, her philosophical exploration of the ageing body, the passing of time, and its relationship to, and effect on, memory, while Benjamin Hancock presented his beguiling Princess, an intensely personal work examining the role of dynasts and the building of empires. The third work in the triple-bill was Paea Leach’s the lines of birds, a choreographic investigation for three dancers, exploring liminal space, pathways and desire lines. the lines of birds was scored live by sound musicians Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey, who integrated, responded to, and magnified ambient sound, creating a unique score for each performance.
It Cannot Be Stopped found its curatorial thread through each individual’s distinct and driven approach to creating work. From the politically grounded performance art of Atlanta Eke, to the technically rigorous style of Benjamin Hancock, It Cannot Be Stopped showcased three divergent works from three inimitable performance makers.
Creative Team
Direction & Choreography Paea Leach
Lighting Design Bosco Shaw
Composition & Sound Design Madeleine Flynn & Tim Humphrey
Costume Consultant Shio Otani
Original Performers Paea Leach, Gregory Lorenzutti, Michaela Pegum
Artistic Director Anouk van Dijk
Executive Producer Catherine Jones
Business and Program Manager Hillary Coyne
Production Manager Michael Carr
Stage Manager Blair Hart
World Premiere
20 June 2014 Melbourne
“As these works demonstrate, the range of ideas and modes of creative practice in Melbourne dance is fascinatingly diverse and inventive, making the future of the artform very bright indeed.” The Age. Read More.
A note from Paea Leach
The lines of birds is a work like a prayer, a silent flock of birds at great heights moving through vast spaces. It is underpinned by a rigorous approach to process, discussion, not knowing and working toward what emerges in an environment when ‘something’ is established. It is a work for the collision and ‘elide’ of body and sound as for the sounds we do not usually listen for. It began before we arrived and will continue past this tunnel of light, air, sound, and songs from great distances.
L-R: Gregory Lorenzutti, Paea Leach, Michaela Pegum Image: Sarah Walker
