Apologies that this comes to you a little close to time as we’ve only just learned we have a space available in our “hall on the hill” on these two Saturdays. But just in case it works for you…

Day 1: Saturday 6th April

Modulated Sonic-Sensory + Embodied Extensions:

Commencing with a 30-minute warm up session (complimentary to the activities that follow), we’ll then dive into a few sound and movement exercises – voice, live instruments and recorded electronic – gathered from / inspired by subaquatic, primarily marine, spaces. After lunch we’ll focus on carrying multiple sense-making processes further across the afternoon, influenced by the morning’s activities, in a confluence of headphone-immersive sound (vocal and live instruments) and movement modalities in a final group jam and ideas-sharing.

Day 2: Saturday 13th April

Immersive Subaquatic Embodied/Sonic Extensions:

Commencing with a 30-minute warm up session (complimentary to the activities that follow), we’ll then dive gently into a series of movement modalities. These will be geared towards encouraging a unified, though diverse, accumulation of specific physical foci. Then, a few lucky people (“the divers”) will get to experience the Dive Memory Sensory Immersion Suit (DMSIS) of immersive sound and sensory “feed-ins” with other particpants assisting, followed by a guided “post-dive” movement extension out into the fuller, open, space.

‘Under Pressure’ one of the works birthed at the end of Dean’s fellowship research. A 45 minute trio with the wonderful Kathryn Puie and Natalie Ayton – 2012. Photo by Heidrun Löhr

After lunch - based on a feed-back session with these “divers” - we’ll re-embody the morning’s modalities, with the feed-back and recollections as “impressionable guiders”. Then in smaller groups, we’ll discuss what potential compositional values (movement and/or sound), may be having an impression on us, in terms of what we might like to spontaneously explore further and share, in perhaps slightly more honed presentations, to the other groups.

We’ll end the day with a 30-minute discussion/sharing of the patterns and changes we noticed across the day – i.e. what did we notice changing within ourselves and throughout the group?

When:

Saturday 6th and/or Saturday 13th April 9am to 4pm

Where:

Hugh Bamford Hall, Hugh Bamford Reserve, Military Rd, North Bondi

Price: In keeping the price as inclusive as possible …

$50 full (waged) per day

$35 concession (unwaged / DSP or other pensions) per day

NB:

I’d like to try and keep numbers to a maximum of 12 for each of these two days. So please book in ASAP if you’re keen. I’m holding a 3-day (consecutive) PrimeOrderly workshop in July for those who cannot make this one but are interested to participate.

To Book:

Send your confirmation to Andrew Batt-Rawden at andrew@weirdnest.com. He will get back with payments details to you directly.

Access:

Both days are open and accessible to all people with at least 2 years experience in performance workshops and/or their own professional practice. Suitable for ages 18 upwards. The space is wheelchair accessible however, there are as yet no accessible rails in the toilets – we’re working on getting council to install.

I have nearly 20 years working in / and facilitating for, wider (than the arts) community capacities, including people living with disability (visible and invisible).

Getting there:

The 380 bus to Watson’s Bay via Bondi Beach gets you almost right to the door. Most people get the train to Bondi Junction then the 380.

Car Parking:

There’s an all-day free car park between the hall and the oval. You need to drive up the ramp from Military road to access it. You can usually be assured of a spot if you get there prior to 9am on a Saturday. There’s also free all-day spots on Wentworth St.

More information and context

This practice is influenced by 30+ years existing as a human quiet obsessed by the potential diversity of communication methods through the mediums of contemporary dance, choreography and performing practices, including many workshop facilitations, movement research periods and working as educator for many university courses around Australia.

Around 2007 my practice veered further off-the-beaten-track into morphing with free and scuba (self-contained breath apparatus) diving techniques and technologies, as well as embracing independent marine science and First Nations’ folks deep understanding of sea country and the growing concerns for it due to climate changes.

In 2009 I also began formulating a means to make these shifts even more accessible to every-body and every-mind (including those who identify as living with disability). In 2011-2012, I was thrilled to be able to embark upon really intensive research for two+ years by way of an Australia Council fellowship and endorsement from Macquarie Uni, Performances Space, FORM Dance Projects and Critical Path.

Several works were birthed in this time and post fellowship. My practice these days is significantly influenced by marine environmental (extended cognition) research, as well as continuing to develop a dynamically accessible and inclusive performance-making practice.

The fellowship also allowed me to hone two parallel and complimentary practices:

‘SeeAnEnemy’ – a 20 minute trio on the same program. A meditation on our fear of sharks. Photo by Heidrun Löhr

PrimeOrderly - extended cognitions, learning through liminality and embodied understandings of marine and other more-than-human biodiversity.
Found In Translation (FIT) – working across several complimentary disciplines and forms of creative expression (dance, sound, music, writing, visual) exercises that enhance performance-making and/or learning capacities, whilst celebrating multiple sense-making processes.