For now I am on a little break so I apologise for not writing on here more often.

During the next 3-months I will be working on a rigorous rehabilitation program with my physiotherapist, helping Garry and Libby out at ADT with some remounting of Be Your Self for Sydney and Melbourne touring – and thinking about my next creative development of Nought at ADT starting late June.

Dear Friend/Supporter

Following a recent decision by the Australia Council it was announced that Leigh Warren & Dancers will have its triennial funding cut.

This comes after LWD’s most successful year to date, with performances in three separate festivals, some sensational new projects coming up and overseas invitations for the year ahead. Help us fight back to appeal this decision which would deprive SA of a valuable resource and a contributor to dance on so many levels.

If Leigh or the company has ever touched, supported or inspired your life in any way, now is the time to share that with The Hon Simon Crean MP, Federal Minister for the Arts, and James Strong AO, Chairman of Australia Council.

You can show your support by heading to our website and filling out our online petition www.lwd.com.au

Thank you for your support – it means a lot to the company and the other artists, technical staff and students that will be impacted by this decision.

Yours sincerely,
Everyone at Leigh Warren & Dancers

The first stage development was this time, september 2009, it has evolved much since then, and also hasn’t at the same time, always new but constantly referencing the starting point for all his mayhem, the scores of French composer Olivier Messiaen.

Aviary is my first project with Balletlab, I am excited to perform this work, and finally present the passion that is Philip Adams on stage, in my first ever performance in-front of a Melbourne audience in my 8 year performance career. 

Although the season is almost sold out, something like 15 tickets remain, go HERE for further details, or, look to your Left under NOW and find details there, alternatively visit www.balletlab.org 

The festival director Bilqis Hijjas has invited me back after my 3–month Rimbun Dahan Residency (Selangor, Malaysia) in 2010 and performances at the Fonteyn Studio (Petaling Jaya, Malaysia).

The festival runs for 3 weeks. The first week contains performances by local malaysian emerging artists, the second week performances from more established Malaysian companies and choreographers, and the third week is dedicated to performances by International creators and companies.

I am super proud to be representing Australian work in this festival this year, along side other works from New York, Taiwan, Figi and Singapore. Throughout the three weeks, running along side the performances are workshops, lectures and conferences taking place. The theme for this years festival is “All in One”, lets rock this bitch!

Visit the MyDance Website for details.
Find information about our work here

Video

Nought was originally created for the 2010 3rd year Adelaide College of the Arts Bachelor of Dance Performance students. Over the next year I will spend short creative development periods with the ADT company, edging the work toward presentation as a full-length work as part of ADT’s new-look 2012 Ignition Season. For this coming 2-week development I will be working with 4 members of the company; Kialea-Nadine Williams, Kyle Page, Jessica Hesketh and Tara Soh. 

Stay tuned for further updates on this very exciting endeavour.

In other news, on friday I finished a 3-week creative development of a solo work, co-created by Tina Venditto and Myself. It is a project funded by the Helpmann Academy due for showing at the 2011 Ausdance SA October Choreolab Season at the Main Theatre, Adelaide College of the Arts, October 13-15. Titled “Colour of Night” it is an assessment of Nina Simone’s version of “Sea Lion Woman”. The song became a point of deviation, where a narrative was created set in the 1920′s images by Brassai, about a prostitute, turned murder mystery. Tina is a 2010 Graduate of ACArts and appeared in the original version of “Nought”.

Be sure to search for me on Vimeo or Youtube for videos.

I am guesting with the Nationaltheatre Mannheim – performing in Schumann’s Das Paradise und die Peri.
This particular version was staged by Joachim Schloemer in 2009, I appeared also in this original production.

For most of the work I play a child, the jungling, ranging from 3 – 18 I think, there is much blood to swim in, dirt to play in and an angel that literally fly’s. Performing along side a spectacular line up of opera talent including the remarkable Cornelia Ptassek.

We begin performances next week, check the Nationaltheatre website for details…..

Nationaltheatre Mannheim
Das Paradise und die Peri

Over 15 of this country’s finest dancers, including EDC’s own, will gather in Brisbane to take part in a groundbreaking event: SOLO – Festival of Dance.

Described as ‘one of the bravest productions EDC has ever staged’, SOLO will see each fearless dancer take to the stage to perform a stunning solo -stripped back and unadorned.

When you produce art without fear, rare gems are created.

This is a raw, sensual evening of dance where each dancer shares their beautiful artistry, virtuosity and individual style.

Showcasing the humanity of the physical form, SOLO cuts to the essence of what it truly means to dance.

WITH SUPPORT FROM JUDITH WRIGHT CENTRE. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! BOOK EARLY

NEW SOLOS CHOREOGRAPHED FOR EDC DANCERS BY:
Vanessa Mafé, Elise May, Richard Causer, Timothy Brown and Natalie Weir.

EDC DANCERS WILL BE JOINED BY GUEST ARTISTS INCLUDING:
Daryl Brandwood (Leading Artist WA Ballet), Nicola Leahey (Dancenorth), Larissa McGowan (Australian Dance Theatre), Lizzie Vilmanis, Kristina Chan, Timothy Ohl, Jesse Martin, Lisa Griffiths, Brian Lucas, Lisa O’Neill, Daniel Jaber and Connor Dowling (independent artists).

SOLO PROGRAM
Different artists perform on different nights. Click below for more information on individual artists
Thu 28 April, 7.30pm

MAN A
Richard Causer (EDC)
Daniel Jaber
Brian Lucas
Jesse Martin
Timothy Ohl
David Williams (EDC)
Jack Ziesing (EDC)

LIGHTING: Andrew Meadows
COSTUME DESIGN: Libby McDonnell
SEASON: THURSDAY 28 APRIL – SATURDAY 7 MAY, 7.30pm
VENUE: PERFORMANCE SPACE, JUDITH WRIGHT CENTRE
TICKETS: $25/45, FESTIVAL PASS IS AVAILABLE JUDITH WRIGHT CENTRE BOX OFFICE 9AM-4PM, PHONE 07 3872 9000 or www.jwcoca.qld.gov.au

Crash
Choreographed by Daniel Jaber
Thu 28 April (MAN A)

Crash is an explosive, physical exploration drawing inspiration from the narrative of Jordan Belfort known as ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’.

After 5 years with Garry Stewart’s Australian Dance Theatre, Daniel has recently been performing, creating and teaching extensively throughout Australia, Europe and Asia. He has worked with Joachim Schloemer, Frances d’Ath, Philip Adams and Gabrielle Nankivell.

Click here to view video teaser

I will create a short movement exploration titled Crash, inspired by the multi-facets and story of Jordan Belfort, more popularly known as the Wolf of Wall Street.

Other than that, I am teaching a lot, at Ausdance SA, Gravity Studio and ADT Public Dance Classes.

First things first, a re-development of my solo from January 10 – 28 at Gravity Studio, Adelaide.
Then, something I have been waiting for – for quite some time, first stage development of Gabrielle Nankivell’s new work titled ‘The Funeral Tree’.
To attend the showings of the work visit here for details.
Gabs’ web info…….. www.gabriellenankivell.com

Following this, I assume unemployment until I know more.

Most exciting event of 2011 is the FULLY-FUNDED ‘Degradation’, a first stage development of my next work happening october-november in Adelaide and Brisbane.