10 - 18 MAY, 2019CREMORNE THEATRE, QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

EXPRESSIONSDANCECOMPANY.ORG.AU

Anyone that I have spent time with, worked alongside or collaborated with knows that my love of art, and more specifi cally dance, is profound and fi erce. I am driven by a fi re for all things creative, that are thought provoking and truly express our human nature.

So, it is with such pleasure that I fi nd myself writing my fi rst welcome note as the Artistic Director of Expressions Dance Company. I am absolutely thrilled to have been given the opportunity to lead this company, to nurture the artists that make this company what it is and to cultivate and shape what the company will become.

It is a fi tting tribute to the legacy that Natalie has created for the company that we honour her with our fi rst mainstage season of 2019, demonstrating the care and love that has been poured into this reimagining of The Dinner Party. Thank you, Natalie, for both this beautiful work and for all you have contributed to EDC and the wider landscape of dance.

Behind every performance a company shares with its audience, there are a collective of artists and enablers who give so much to pursue both artistic excellence and connection with our audience. So, I wish to extend my warmest thanks to the creative team behind The Dinner Party.

I want to thank Gail for her stunning costumes, Tania for her musical direction of the Southern Cross Soloists for the score of

the work and Ben for framing this work with the poetry he creates with light. I also wish to acknowledge Andrea for her care and eye for detail in guiding the ensemble through discovering their roles and what they are capable of within them.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the drive of the whole EDC collective – the board, the admin and production teams. I am privileged to work with this wonderful group of people. They all share my love of the arts and together we are committed to cultivating incredible work and meaningful connection with our audiences.

A company and its creative voice are only ever as strong as the community of its supporters and the belief they have in this wonderful company. We are incredibly grateful to you all. A special mention in particular to our longstanding partner QPAC for presenting this season of The Dinner Party with us.

And fi nally, we welcome EDC’s 2019 collective: Jake, Bella, Jag, Bernie, Josie and our guest artist Lizzie – they are an extraordinary group of performers and I adore the creative freedom and fi re they bring to both studio and stage. I cannot wait to see what we achieve as a group of likeminded artists now and looking forward to our future.

Thank you and enjoy this wonderful performance of The Dinner Party.

AMY HOLLINGSWORTHArtistic DirectorExpressions Dance Company (EDC)

Welcome to QPAC and to this performance of The Dinner Party by Expressions Dance Company.

When The Dinner Party (formerly titled The Dinner Party (formerly titled The Dinner Party The Host) premiered at QPAC in 2015, it was well received by audiences and enjoyed a number of glowing reviews. It is wonderful to see this work, home-grown in Queensland, return to QPAC as part of its national tour.

The Dinner Party is a collaborative performance work involving dance, music and fashion. With The Dinner Party is a collaborative performance work involving dance, music and fashion. With The Dinner Partycostumes by acclaimed local fashion designer, Gail Sorronda, original music recordings from QPAC Company in Residence, Southern Cross Soloists, and choreography by former EDC Artistic Director, Natalie Weir, The Dinner Party wonderfully demonstrates the creativity of some of our The Dinner Party wonderfully demonstrates the creativity of some of our The Dinner Partybrightest local artists.

I hope you enjoy this performance and look forward to welcoming you to QPAC again soon.

JOHN KOTZASChief Executive Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC)

CHOREOGRAPHER’S NOTE NATALIE WEIRThis work was originally performed by EDC in 2015, with the title, The Host. I have remoulded this work to fi t the current EDC ensemble, with a new name, The Dinner Party. After the season at QPAC, the company leaves for a 6-week Australian tour of this work, which is wonderful as the production was designed to be a smaller scale work for regional touring, building on the successful touring products of Carmen Sweet and R&J. I wanted it to be accessible, enjoyable and exciting to watch.

The idea of a dinner party hosted by a wealthy young man of high status, and his guests all with their own desires, insecurities and agendas, provides great fodder for this work. In the dictionary, one of the meanings of a ‘host’ is “an animal or plant on which a parasite lives.”

I have been intrigued with this idea throughout my career, staging several incarnations of this work, and I have loved working with the current EDC ensemble, under the Artistic Direction of Amy Hollingsworth. I am so excited to see Amy Hollingsworth take over the reigns as the new Artistic Director, and I wish her all the very best in the adventure ahead.

The Dinner Party is an exploration of manipulation and the desire for status and wealth, and is The Dinner Party is an exploration of manipulation and the desire for status and wealth, and is The Dinner Partyquite tongue in cheek. Power can be used many ways and can be misused. I love the famous saying, “Power corrupts: absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Love, loyalty, guilt, desire and greed all feature.

Many thanks to the EDC ensemble with rehearsal director Andrea Briody – they are all stunning. A special thanks to Lizzie Vilmanis for returning to the stage for this season and tour. Costume design is by the wonderful fashion designer, Gail Sorronda, with evocative lighting by Ben Hughes. The music is a recording, played by Southern Cross Soloists, directed by Tania Frazer.

I invite the audience to decide who really holds the power at this dinner party.

COSTUME DESIGNER’S NOTE GAIL SORRONDAThe Dinner Party costumes explored themes of duality through; dark vs light, masculine vs The Dinner Party costumes explored themes of duality through; dark vs light, masculine vs The Dinner Partyfeminine, opacity vs transparency, fl uidity vs restraint. The symbiotic relationship between dancer and costume allows the narrative of dark romanticism with a comical twist to be given life, not far removed from the aesthetic of my own label.

NATALIE WEIRChoreographerAustralian choreographer Natalie Weir is known internationally for her highly physical partner work, her organic movement style and her touching insight into humanity. In her 30-plus year

career, she has created major new works for world class companies such as The Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet, West Australian Ballet, Houston Ballet, Singapore Dance Theatre, Hong Kong Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Natalie was resident choreographer for The Australian Ballet and Queensland Ballet. She was subsequently appointed EDC’s Artistic Director in 2009, where she held the role until the end of 2018. Natalie has also been the recipient of both an Australia Council Fellowship and the Lord Mayor’s Fellowship. Her works with EDC have earned the company and its artists 21 combined Helpmann Award and Australian Dance Award nominations. Her EDC signature productions include where the heart is, R&J, When Time Stops, The Red Shoes, 7 Deadly Sins, Behind Closed Doors and Everyday Requiem.

GAIL SORRONDACostume DesignerGail Sorronda is the emotive label of Brisbane designer Gail Sorronda. Gail completed her degree in Fine Arts Fashion Design at Queensland University of Technology and launched Gail Sorronda in

2005 at Australian Fashion Week after winning the Mercedes-Benz Start-Up Awards with her debut collection. Since then her dark romantic collections have attracted the attention of some of the fashion world’s most infl uential people. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana cherry picked Gail Sorronda to be stocked in the Dolce & Gabbana Spiga2 store in Milan after being a fi nalist in Vogue Italia’s Who is On Next competition. In 2012 Gail Sorronda opened their fi rst permanent fl agship boutique in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. Since then the brand has collaborated with Queensland Ballet, Expressions Dance Company and Disney and most recently Gail was selected as an ambassador for the Gallery of Modern Art. gailsorronda.com

ABOUT SOUTHERN CROSS SOLOISTS (SXS)Southern Cross Soloists (SXS) formed in 1995 and has been a Company in Residence at QPAC since 2009. Balancing tradition and exploration, SXS embraces 21st century chamber music by pairing new Australian art music with re-imaginations of traditional works arranged for its unique instrumental forces.

SXS tours nationally and internationally, with performances broadcast regularly on ABC Classic FM. For the past 17 years SXS has presented the Bangalow Music Festival in August – a major event in the Australian arts calendar - performing with Australian and international artists and providing meaningful community outreach to regional NSW. SXS also records for ABC Classics, Melba and SXS Classics with plans underway to mark SXS’s 25th anniversary in 2020.

southernxsoloists.com

TANIA FRAZERMusical Director / Artistic Director, Southern Cross SoloistsRenowned Australian oboist Tania Frazer, Artistic Director of Southern Cross Soloists (appointed 2011) is a graduate of

the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Following graduation, she was a member of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra in Germany. At age 23, Tania was invited to perform with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. She has since appeared as Principal Oboe with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony, the Jerusalem Symphony, The Israel Opera, Stavanger Symphony in Norway, the Montreal Chamber Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and was Principal Cor Anglais of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for a season. Tania won fi rst prize at the Coleman International Competition in Los Angeles, the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Award in London, the Australian Foundation in London Award and the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Martin Award (UK).

CREATIVE TEAMChoreographer Natalie Weir

with the EDC Dancers

Costume Designer Gail Sorronda

Musical Director Tania Frazer

Lighting Designer Ben Hughes

Rehearsal Director Andrea Briody

EDC DANCERSThe Host Jake McLarnon

The Hostess Lizzie Vilmanis

The Rival Bernhard Knauer

The Wannabe Jag Popham

The Lover Isabella Hood

The Insecure

Party Girl Josephine Weise

Understudies: Georgie Bailey & Samuel Gilovitz

MUSIC Recording performed by Southern Cross Soloists

Viola Thomas Chawner

Violin Cameron Jamieson

Cello Robert Manley

Violin Iona Tache

PRODUCTION TEAMProduction Coordinator/

Stage Manager Ariana O’Brien

Head Technician Chris Goeldner

Wardrobe Coordinator Sharon Clarke

Production Secondment Sophie Watkins

QPAC Lighting Technician Andrew Haden

Program details correct at time of printing.

TOUR INFORMATIONFor details, visit expressionsdancecompany.org.au

Rockhampton Tue 28 May

Maryborough Thu 30 May

Toowoomba Sat 1 June

Co� s Harbour Thu 6 June

Port Macquarie Fri 7 June

Wyong Wed 12 June

Parramatta Thu 13 - Sat 15 June

Gri� th Wed 19 June

Queanbeyan Fri 21 - Sat 22 June

Dubbo Tue 25 June

Darwin Wed 3 July

Alice Springs Sat 6 July

BEN HUGHESLighting DesignerBen Hughes is a lighting designer whose design practice spans theatre, dance and opera. He is Associate Artistic Director of The Danger Ensemble. He has designed for companies including:

Queensland Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Malthouse Theatre, Opera Queensland, Belvoir, La Boite Theatre Company, Queensland Ballet, Sydney Festival, Brisbane Festival, The Danger Ensemble, HotHouse Theatre, The Nest Ensemble, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre, JUTE Theatre, Stella Electrika, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Phluxus2 Dance Collective, Collusion, Gold Coast Arts Centre, Woodford Folk Festival and Kooemba Jdarra. Expressions Dance Company productions include The Host, Carmen Sweet, Propel and Converge. Ben was Resident Lighting Designer at Queensland Theatre in 2013 and A� liate Artist with the company from 2011 to 2014. He lectures in Lighting Design at Queensland University of Technology.

ANDREA BRIODYRehearsal DirectorAndrea Briody completed her formal dance training at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne after studying with Carole Oliver in Ballarat. Following contracts in Australia with the Dancer’s Company,

The Victorian State Opera and Opera Australia she performed in Europe with London Ballet Theatre, City Ballet of Trier and the State Theatre of Saarbrücken in Germany. Andrea joined Sydney Dance Company in 2000 working with Graeme Murphy, Stephen Petronio and Narelle Benjamin. She later joined the State Theatre of Tyrol in Innsbruck under the direction of Birgit Scherzer. From 2010 she taught at Sydney Dance Company studios and joined the dancers on many of their national and international tours. She was a guest teacher for Bangarra Dance Theatre, Ballet Preljocaj, Michael Clark Company and Matthew Bourne’s productions. In 2019 she began guest teaching for Expressions Dance Company and will join them as rehearsal director for their regional Australian tour.

ISABELLA HOODEDC Dancer

Isabella began her dance training under the directorship of Dale Coles at Toowoomba School of Dance. She went on to graduate fi rst class in BA(Hons) of Fine Arts (Dance

Performance) at QUT in 2017. During her studies, she performed choreography by Lucas Jervies, Richard Causer, Gareth Belling, Natalie Weir and Graeme Murphy, and took part in a week long intensive with Lloyd Newson (DV8). In 2017, Isabella’s Honours research led her to perform alongside EDC in Natalie Weir’s Behind Closed Doors, Mozart Airborne and Opera Australia’s Aida on the Beach. She joined EDC as a company dancer in 2018, performing in both the QPAC season and China tour of 4Seasons and Natalie Weir’s Everyday Requiem. Most recently, she performed in EDC’s site specifi c work The Play of Light, choreographed by Elise May for the Inaugural Curious Arts Festival in Toowoomba.

BERNHARD KNAUEREDC Dancer

Bernhard Knauer was born in Dresden, Germany and attended the Palucca School before completing his dance training at The Hague’s Royal Conservatory, dancing in

works by choreographers Jiři Kylián, Jorma Elo and Nils Christe. In 2005 Bernhard joined Theater Görlitz under the direction of Franz Huyer. He then performed with the State Theatre of Tyrol in Austria under Birgit Scherzer dancing numerous soloist roles. Later he joined the Dutch National Ballet for Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker and then Nutcracker and then Nutcrackerperformed in San Francisco in pieces by Yuri Zhukov and Hlín Diego Hjálmarsdóttir. Joining Sydney Dance Company in 2010, he performed nationally and internationally in works by Rafael Bonachela, Jacopo Godani, Lisa Wilson, Larissa McGowan, Alexander Ekman, Stephanie Lake, Gideon Obarzanek, Andonis Foniadakis, Lee Serle, Gabrielle Nankivell, William Forsythe, Antony Hamilton and Cheng Tsung Lung. He choreographed Derived as part of New Breed for Sydney Dance Company which premiered in Germany. Bernhard was nominated for a Helpmann Award in 2017 for best male dancer.

JAKE MCLARNONEDC Dancer

Born in Perth, Jake completed his training at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Upon graduating Jake joined Australian Dance Theatre

(ADT) for its European tour of Garry Stewart’s Proximity then joining the ensemble full time. Proximity then joining the ensemble full time. ProximityOther ADT highlights include the Australian season of Garry Stewart’s Be Yourself and Be Yourself and Be YourselfBirdbrain. He fi rst performed with EDC as a guest artist for the 2016 remount of When Time Stopsbefore returning to ADT to perform Objekt by Garry Stewart. Jake became an EDC company member later that year under the direction of Natalie Weir, performing in signature works such as Behind Closed Doors, Mozart Airborne and 4Seasons. As a choreographer, Jake has most recently created Shift for the inaugural 2019 EDC Youth Ensemble production Echo. His work Isochronism for EDC’s Converge (a collaboration with Queensland Conservatorium) was also performed at the 2018 Australian Dance Awards. He also created a work for the 2017 Teneri� e Festival in collaboration with visual artist Matt Sheridan and TWFine Art.

JAG POPHAMEDC Dancer

Jag Popham, born in Auckland, New Zealand, started dancing at age three training in classical ballet, contemporary and capoeira. He trained at the New Zealand School of

Dance majoring in contemporary, gaining his Certifi cate in Dance Performance. Jag fi rst performed with Expressions Dance Company in Black, which premiered at QPAC in 2016 and later that year toured fi ve venues in Guangdong province, China. He has since performed with EDC in 2018 productions Converge and Natalie Weir’s Everyday Requiem. Through di� erent avenues Jag has had the privilege to work with established artists such as Kuik Swee Boon, Stephanie Lake, Sarah Foster-Sproull and Okareka Dance Company.

LIZZIE VILMANISEDC Guest Dancer

Experienced performer, choreographer, director, rehearsal director, teacher, arts consultant and researcher, Lizzie’s career began with EDC in 2000. From 2014 she

has been an independent artist and co-creative director of Prying Eye. Lizzie has performed major roles nationally and internationally, worked with leading choreographers, collaborated with high calibre artists, created, as well as showcased works for prestigious companies and festivals, and taught for leading organisations around the world. She also holds a Master of Arts (Research), is a freelance arts consultant, and regularly teaches movement classes for people with Dementia. Co-founder of Brisbane Dance Artists Hub (2010) as well as Pro Dance Classes Brisbane (2011) she was also Management Committee Secretary of Supercell from its inception until 2018. Most recently Lizzie created The Garden of Curiosity with Prying Eye for Curious Arts Festival (2019) and co-hosted The Workers Paradise ‘non-festival’ (2019). Lizzie returns to EDC having last performed in and rehearsal directed for Natalie Weir’s Everyday Requiem (2018).

JOSEPHINE WEISEEDC Dancer

Josephine commenced her training at the Pamela Marshall Academy of Dance in Hervey Bay. In 2013 she graduated from the Queensland Dance School of Excellence after

three years of full-time dance study. In 2014 Josie spent a year in Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year and was selected to tour with the company which later led to an apprenticeship in 2015. Josie joined the company full time in 2016 and spent three years with SDC touring extensively in Australia and internationally. She performed numerous works by Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela as well as working with choreographers such as Thomas McManus/Ana Catalina Román Horcajo on William Forsythe’s Quintette, Alexander Ekkmann (Cacti), Jacopo Godani, Tsung Lung, Melanie Lane, Antony Hamilton, Gideon Oberzankez, Gabrielle Nankivell, Israel Aloni, Lee Brummer and Andonis Foniadakis. Josie joins EDC for their 2019 season.

EXPRESSIONS DANCE COMPANY

BOARD OF DIRECTORSMarian Gibney (Chair)Tony Denholder (Deputy Chair)Amy HollingsworthRoxanne HopkinsRhyll GardnerDare PowerAlan Scott

STAFFArtistic Director Amy HollingsworthActing General Manager Nick EnglerManagement Consultant Jan IrvineRehearsal Director Andrea BriodyCompany Manager Jade EllisProduction Coordinator Ariana O’BrienActing Marketing & Sponsorship ManagerLiana CantaruttiYouth Ensemble Director Riannon McLeanSocial Media Coordinator Alana SargentO� ce Administrator / Teacher’s notes April WilliamsAccountant Karen MitchellBookkeeper Elizabeth LepuaMarketing Intern Lily MacrossanProduction Secondment Sophie WatkinsWatkins

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Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary ArtsLevel 3, 420 Brunswick StreetFortitude Valley QLD 4006 07 3257 4222

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Established in 1984 and based within Brisbane’s Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Expressions Dance Company (EDC) is one of Queensland’s leading contemporary dance collectives. In addition to presenting an annual program of world-class contemporary dance performances at QPAC and other Brisbane venues, EDC embarks on Australia-wide and overseas tours. EDC’s Artistic Director is renowned Australian dancer, dance maker and curator Amy Hollingsworth (appointed 2019).

With the talent of an extraordinary ensemble of 6-8 dancers, the company has achieved signifi cant recognition through national awards and nominations, including 10 Helpmann Award and 10 Australian Dance Award nominations. Acclaimed productions include 4Seasons (2018), Behind Closed Doors (2017), Mozart Airborne (2017), The Host (2015), The Red Shoes (2014), Carmen Sweet (2013), When Time Stops (2013), R&J (2011) and where the heart is (2010).

Recently, EDC’s commitment to cultural collaboration has been articulated through its Chinese Australian Dance Exchange Project, a groundbreaking partnership with three of China’s leading contemporary dance companies. EDC has also collaborated with Singapore Dance Theatre, Switzerland-based Cathy Sharp Dance Ensemble, Queensland Ballet, Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Camerata, Topology, Southern Cross Soloists and the Queensland Conservatorium.

Expressions Dance Company acknowledges the assistance of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

Cover Photo by Megan Cullen featuring Jack Ziesing - The Host (2015)Internal rehearsal photographs by David Kelly

2019 SEASON PARTNERS TRAINING PARTNER WELLNESS PARTNER

BOARD OF DIRECTORSProfessor Peter Coaldrake AO (Chair)Leigh Tabrett PSM (Deputy Chair)

TRUST MEMBERSDare PowerSusan Rix AMLeanne de Souza

EXECUTIVE STAFFChief Executive John KotzasExecutive Director – Stakeholder Engagement Strategy: Jackie BranchExecutive Director – Visitation: Roxanne HopkinsExecutive Director – Business Performance: Kieron RoostActing Executive Director – Curatorial: Bill Jessop

QPAC PRODUCTION CREDITSDirector – Programming John GlennProgram Development Manager Janelle Christofi sMarketing Manager Alex HollowayEvents Manager Chris Horne

Cnr Grey & Melbourne Streets, South BankPO Box 3567, South Bank QLD 410107 3840 7444 QTIX: 136 246

QPAC respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Lands across Queensland and pays respect to their ancestors who came before them and to Elders past, present and emerging.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThe Queensland Performing Arts Trust is a statutory body of the State of Queensland and is partially funded by the Queensland Government

The Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP, Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts

Director-General, Department of Environmentthe Premier and Cabinet: David Stewart

Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is one of Australia’s leading centres for live performance. QPAC is a venue, a producer, an investor, a presenter and a public place. Welcoming over 1.3 million visitors to more than 1200 performances each year, we embrace the best in live performance – the world renowned alongside the emerging, local and new – and connect to the stories and ideas at the heart of each production.

Central to QPAC’s activities is the pursuit of excellence in live performance and cultural thinking to help sustain and grow our vibrant arts community.

QPAC strives to be a place where audiences and artists come together to relax, learn, refl ect, share stories and celebrate.

QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

Patrons are advised that the Performing Arts Centre has EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES, a FIRE ALARM system and EXIT passageways. In case of an alert, patrons should remain calm, look for the closest EXIT sign in GREEN, listen to and comply with directions given by the inhouse trained attendants and move in an orderly fashion to the open spaces outside the Centre.

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EXPRESSIONS DANCE COMPANY,BEIJING DANCE / LDTX AND

QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE PRESENT

NEW DANCE WORKS BY

STEPHANIE LAKE (AUSTRALIA) & MA BO (CHINA)

13 - 16 NOVEMBER 2019 PLAYHOUSE, QPACQPAC.COM.AU CALL 136 246

Expressions Dance Company acknowledges the assistance of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

NEW DANCE WORKS BY