Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Flickerfest Hopetoun
Celebrating 27 years, Flickerfest is
Australia’s leading Academy® Award accredited and BAFTA-recognised Short Film
Festival, the country’s largest Australian & International short film
competition, screening the best of shorts from Australia and around the world,
hand-picked from 2,500 entries.
Flickerfest screens for 10 days under the
summer stars at Bondi Beach in January 2018, with selected highlights touring
Australia on a 50+ venue national tour from Jan - May 2018. Flickerfest remains
a platform for celebrating the most entertaining and innovative short
filmmaking from Australia and around the world.
Flickerfest returns to the Hopetoun Community Centre with the Best
Of Australian Shorts, curated from
the Flickerfest Australian & International programmes in competition at Bondi. This is a one-off chance to see these amazing short films before
they continue their journey around the world; expect to experience the best in
short filmmaking Australia & the world has on offer.
BYO everything for this kick-back adults movie festival. Bring snacks, wine glasses, and nibble platters of your liking. Tickets available at the door from 6.30pm, for a 7.00pm showing.
Please note: Children
under 15 years are allowed to come and snuggle, just like they do at home - but
the films have adult content so there are no ticket sales for under 15’s and
children must be accompanied by an adult.
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
2017 Wrap Up
RRAC had a very busy and successful year. For
sustainable livability in the region we worked behind the scenes to
network intra-regionally, to bring awareness to our region, to widen funding
opportunities, and to bring more artistic opportunities to our community. In 2017 RRAC continued to employ 2 part-time people. RRAC’s
2017 touring shows and events attracted 858 audience members. RRAC held 17
various workshops to support the artistic growth of 154 adults and 439
children. Over 1800 individuals participated in RRAC’s 2017 artistic calendar
of events supported by over 800 volunteer hours.
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| Arts Summit Manduarah: Fay, Ainsley, Dianne & Kirsty |
Additional to the above statistics, the recent RRAC Dance project
saw over 300 children participate in a project designed to allow all children
access to dance lessons. This project saw RRAC branching across into Munglinup,
Lake King and Jerramungup. By including these communities in the Dance project,
we were able to advocate for an amazing opportunity in the Shire of
Ravensthorpe.
2017’s
artistic journey began with Outer Fringe at the Hopetoun Community Centre,
where we ALL received an unexpected surprise towards the end of the show! Also
in January RRAC supported Windspray Arts and Hopetoun Progress Association to
deliver artistic connection in Hopetoun.
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| Artists Talk with Gustav Hellberg |
February
brought Gustav Hellberg, our Nordic Artist into Hopetoun for a four-week
residency. Despite being ‘marooned’ for a few days, as we all were, Gustav very
much enjoyed meeting the community and is looking forward to his next residency
beginning in February 2018. We believe he is particularly looking forward to
‘Chasing the Ace’. The floods did not stop RRAC from hosting the Brazilian
Bossa Nova Baby concert in Ravensthorpe either! The food was floated in, and
the drummer arrived from Perth (via Albany!!) but the night provided an outlet
for connection during a devastating time.
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| Bossa Nova Baby - Ravensthorpe Hall |
Moving into March, RRAC brought
the first ever Flickerfest to Hopetoun. Flickerfest was well received so you
can expect to see another pop-up cinema event (or maybe two) in 2018! March
also set the stage for RRAC’s involvement in the Hopetoun Bush Dance as major
sponsor. Featuring the Mucky Duck Bush Band and budding professional student
singers and musicians, the night was an absolute success and a credit to the
Hopetoun Primary P&C Association.
In
May, a hatful of eager artists gathered at Windspray Arts for the Hard-Pressed
wood carving workshop. The work went on to showcase “Elements of the
Ravensthorpe Shire”, exhibiting in Geraldton, Esperance and Fremantle.
Topping off touring shows in August, RRAC brought “Barbara & Barry’s Sweet Sour and Saucy” to the very well suited Jerdacuttup Hall. The overwhelmingly funny and interactive show will be a hard act to follow!
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| Barbara & Barry's Sweet Sour and Saucy - Jerdacuttup Hall |
RRAC
value-added to the Ravensthorpe Wildflowers Shows’ magnificent splendour by
offering artistic community members the opportunity to mix with legendary florist
Matthew Landers. Mannequins donned floral wearable art and hand-made
large-scale wildflower chandeliers were produced for the occasion. It sure was
a spectacular sight. Let’s not forget the cultural walk on the unique
Ravensthorpe Hopetoun Railway Heritage Trail with the lovely Sabrina Hahn.
As
the months passed throughout 2017, some of RRAC’s tireless members were working on a project that would soon deliver the
opportunity of dance to over 300 children. As part of an intra-regional
collaboration every student in Hopetoun, Ravensthorpe, Munglinup, Jerdacuttup,
Lake King and Jerramungup were part of a pilot project beginning in October
2017. 4 weeks, 6 schools, one internationally recognised Dance Artist. The
dance program is set to kick off again with the return of the 2018 school year
and RRAC is offering an after-school extension class program for
super-keen dancers wishing to extend skills. Ravensthorpe Regional Arts
Councils $140,000 1.5-year intra-regional project commencing February 2018 is
part of a $400,000 Regional Arts Partnership Program for Contemporary Dance and
Performance supported by the State Government of WA and Country Arts WA.
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| One "Tiny Dancer" |
Of course, much of the
above-mentioned cannot happen without willing volunteers, dedicated artists,
supportive community members and the Shire of Ravensthorpe. RRAC is passionate
about delivering connection through the arts for enhanced livability in our very
special region.
We are already enthusiastically anticipating the program of events already
scheduled for 2018.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Meet Alice Lee Holland.
RRAC Dance, a Ravensthorpe Regional
Arts Council Initiative.
Collaborating
closely with the Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Councils’ “Dance” team, Alice Lee
Holland is forming a community dance project which will officially set sail in
2018. Highly qualified, intelligent and
dedicated, we asked our dance artist in residence a few questions so that you
can get to know her.
Tell us a bit about you.
Well, at the moment I am based in Melbourne. I’m an
independent choreographer/director, and I also teach university dance students
at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and public dance classes for adults
at Chunky Move, which is Melbourne’s premier contemporary dance company.
I grew up in Perth. I studied dance at the West
Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), then moved to North Carolina USA
where I completed my Master of Fine Arts in Performance and Choreography.
I moved home to Perth in 2004, which is when I started choreographing my own
professional dance work. I taught at WAAPA for eight years and directed
STEPS Youth Dance Company for six years before moving over east in 2015.
Most recently I was the Resident Director for Circa
Contemporary Circus, based in Brisbane. During this time, I toured
Australia, the UK and Europe with Circa’s incredible shows. We performed
in circus tents and theatres, for music and arts festivals, even cemeteries and
a cathedral!
What is contemporary dance? AND why did you choose
contemporary instead of another discipline?
It’s a very diverse style of dance, but what I teach is
closely related to modern dance, which started as a rebellion against
ballet. The dancers took off their ballet shoes, forgot about the “rules”
and danced with freedom and expression. I loved contemporary dance from a
very young age because of this liberty and imagination. Also,
contemporary dance uses weight, gravity, momentum; it feels pretty great to
create your own waves of energy!
What drives you to teach Dance?
I like to think about it as sharing a love and passion
for dance. Between the ages of 12-17, I danced in a professional dance company
for young people in Perth, called STEPS Youth Dance Company*. Many years
later I became the Artistic Director of STEPS. Rather than teaching dance,
STEPS’ priority was to ignite the artistry in young people. Being inspired by dance and its creative
potential is so much more sustainable than being good at some steps. So that's
what drives me to teach: the opportunity to inspire energetic, creative human
beings!
(*STEPS is no longer a
stand-alone company. The STEPS legacy is now part of WA’s flagship
contemporary dance company Co:3, as Co3:Youth.)
From small town Collie WA to Resident Director for Circa Contemporary
Circus!How did you achieve such a
career?
The support of my parents has been key. When I was
in school, they drove me to dancing six times a week, came to see all the
performances, mum volunteered to help backstage and took me to see heaps of
professional shows... all that stuff! They supported my decision to move to the
USA when I was 21 to complete my Master of Fine Arts. They've even been looking
after my dog since I started travelling so much with work a few years ago...! I
definitely wouldn't be where I am today without their support.
Also, determination and an open mind. I knew I
wanted to be a dancer and choreographer from a young age, and got involved with
as much as I could, so that I could learn as much as possible.
What were the most important lessons of your journey?
Be brave. Be thrilled and
inspired by challenge. Think big. Work your butt off. Start
by understanding that you really don’t know much at all…
What countries have you worked in?
Australia, USA, UK, Belgium,
France, Sweden, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Norway, Taiwan,
Copenhagen…
What was your most bizarre dance job?
Well, my coolest job so far was
working with Circa Contemporary Circus. It was really fascinating working in a
different art form - contemporary circus is a lot like contemporary dance but
much more dangerous and exciting. One of the shows I was involved with
was presented for a cemetery – aerialists, dancers, choir singers – it was
beautiful… and a bit bizarre!
Strait ‘outta’ Melbourne, into Ravensthorpe! What inspired
you to take part in the RRAC Dance Project?
Well a few reasons
really. It’s nice to be working closer to home, especially after being
overseas for a long time. The biggest reason however, is that it’s such a
fabulous project! Inspiring a community to dance?! How cool!!
I feel lucky to be part of this very first stage. It’s an exciting and
ambitious initiative and I am loving the challenge.
(…and I love bobtails… I am
developing that very special skill of being able to dodge them while driving!)
You are also well known for your choreography work, what do
you enjoy more?
Choreographing
is pretty special business because you are creating something new with a team
of dancers and designers. Teaching is pretty similar though, because
you’re creating energy and excitement and enthusiasm for dance! Hopefully
the students I teach filter into the world as dance-lovers – audience members
and also artists of the future.
What would you say is your greatest achievement in your
dance career?
Probably winning the 2015
Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance for STEPS’
production Fights & Flights. The show was performed at the State
Theatre Centre of WA by 55 young dancers age 7-21 and five professional dancers
now working internationally, who had been STEPS dancers when they were young.
How do you fuel your “Dance Energy”?
Great music, a good Pilates program and strong coffee!
What are you hoping is the outcome
of this Pilot Phase?
My priority for this pilot phase
of the RRAC Dance Project is to engage every student and inspire them to
move. Generally, I am working with concepts of contemporary dance
in these sessions.
The traditional idea
of “dancing” can be intimidating for many people, perhaps because it is often
associated with black/white judgements like being a “good” or “bad” dancer,
being “right” or “wrong” in attempts to dance, and ultimately trying to look
the same as the person next to you. I work deliberately against these
priorities to create an environment where movement is empowering. I
design dance workshops for young people that build confidence and sense of
self, promote independent and creative thinking, and develop skills in
collaboration.
 |
| Saturday Dance Workshops in Hopetoun. Photo by Jackie Edwards. |
For project developments, go to the “RRAC Dance”
facebook page;
https://www.facebook.com/RavensthorpeRegionalArtsCouncil/
The Regional Arts Partnership Project is supported by supported
by the State Government of WA and Country Arts WA.
Not the End
Just Another Beginning
Hopetoun
Dance Group has been an integral part of Hopetouns’ landscape for the past four
years. A weekly tradition in Hopetoun. Term by term, Monday afternoons in
Hopetoun are for dancing.
A partnership
between Hopetoun Dance Group & Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council (RRAC), supported
by Hopetoun Primary School and First Quantum Minerals, saw a four-year program
which engaged Hopetoun children in dance. Now with exciting opportunities on
the horizon Rebecca Hiller and Kristen Lanham, Hopetoun Dance Group (HDG) are
fully handing over the reigns (and the remainder of the HDG funding) to RRAC. No
pressure RRAC!
Not to despair.
With the foundations for dance firmly concreted into Hopetoun, thanks to Beck
and Kristin, RRAC have been working on a project to swing, jump, leap and spin
across 6 towns in the region with a Dance Artist in Residence.
RRAC was selected by Country Arts WA to coordinate the Contemporary
Dance and Performance cluster for the Regional Arts Partnership Project (RAPP),
one of three initiatives within the Departments of Local Government Sport and
Cultural Industries and Primary Industries and Regional Development, Royalties
for Regions Creative Regions program. The RAPP is aimed at bringing together
regional artists and arts organisations with key service organisations, to
create collaborative partnership groups to drive regional arts development
across Western Australia. This ground-breaking arts initiative will create
the biggest arts network in Western Australian history over
the next two years. Are we excited? You can bet your lyrical-leotard we are!
Currently still in the scoping phase for this project, RRAC is working
in partnership with Ausdance WA, and with Principals at Hopetoun PS,
Ravensthorpe DHS, Munglinup PS, Jerdacuttup Primary, Lake King PS and
Jerramungup DHS, to deliver the opportunity for over 300 children to
participate in dance.
Ensuring sustainability of dance in the regions is at the forefront of
this project, a Mentorship program is forming up, involving local artists
and/or teachers working alongside RRAC’s professional dance artist in
residence.
This pilot project was kicked off with a community ‘taster’, a full day
of dance classes demonstrating different elements of contemporary dance. To
gage community interest in different dance styles and community demographics, community
dance classes are being held in Hopetoun, Ravensthorpe and Jerramungup during
this school term. This 5-week scoping phase will allow RRAC to gather enough
output data for efficient scheduling throughout 2018 and 2019, leading into
dance performance opportunities, community classes and dance workshops in the
region.
For ongoing dance opportunities, like the dedicated “RRAC Dance”
Facebook page. 2018’s program is set to begin with the start of school term 1.
Acrobatic Workshop photos by Dene Bingham.
Project made possible by:
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