Matriarchs

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Wed 22 May 2024 - Sat 25 May 2024

Indigenous Performers Shine at DANCE24 Festival this May



Brisbane is set to become a hub of creative energy and cultural expression as Metro Arts presents DANCE24, Queensland’s newest dance festival. From May 22 to 25, you're invited to immerse yourself in a celebration that promises to ignite creativity and foster connections through the power of experimental dance.

DANCE24 is not just a festival but an immersive experience that extends beyond the stage. Attendees can look forward to interactive workshops, engaging discussions, industry networking events, and much more. This festival is designed to challenge perceptions, inspire innovation, and bring together dance enthusiasts and professionals alike.

One exciting performance coming to DANCE24 is Matriarchs. The performance delves into the experiences of Indigenous women, examining how their lives and struggles have shaped their descendants. Matriarchs is a journey of reconnecting and intergenerational healing, offering audiences a moving and thought-provoking experience. The creative work will be a profound exploration of identity through the stories of women who have come before us —mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers.



Meet the Artists Behind Matriarchs

Olivia Adams, a proud Wulli Wulli woman from Brisbane (Meanjin), is the choreographer and performer of Matriarchs. A 2020 graduate of Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, Olivia has established herself as a significant independent artist, dancer, choreographer, and producer. In 2023, she toured nationally with Karul Project’s SILENCE and worked as a producer for BlakDance. Olivia's impressive career includes performances with Digi Youth Arts, Polytoxic, and contributions to Bangarra Dance Theatre’s youth program Rekindling. She also showcased her talents internationally, performing in Germany for Documenta 15 as part of Richard Bell’s Tent Embassy and presenting at Western Arts Alliance’s Advancing Indigenous Performance symposium in Calgary. Matriarchs marks her first full-length work, reflecting her commitment to championing First Nations voices and stories.

Arabella Walker, the visual artist and dancer, hails from the maternal line of the Auburn Hawkwood Wulli Wulli people. Walker's art practice grapples with the complexities of connecting to her First Nations heritage in a contemporary context. She integrates Indigenous cultural knowledge into diverse mediums, including paint, video projections, and installations. With a background in dance, Walker blends multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary practices, using her body as a canvas to express cultural connections and stories. Her dynamic use of color and energetic mark-making bridges the traditions of ritual and ceremony with contemporary expression, communicating cultural intent in ways that words cannot.

Special Event: Post-Show Artist Talk

For those eager to delve deeper into the creative mind behind Matriarchs, there is a free post-show artist talk following the Friday, May 24 performance at 7:30 pm. This 45-minute session offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from Olivia Adams about the artistic process and the inspirations behind the work.



Ticket Information and Accessibility

Matriarchs is recommended for ages 15 and up, with tickets priced at $30 plus a booking fee. The performances will be held at Metro Arts' New Benner Theatre, located within West Village at 97 Boundary Street, West End 4101. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Metro Arts .

Metro Arts is committed to accessibility, with wheelchair-accessible facilities available. Patrons with accessibility needs or Companion Card holders can contact Metro Arts at 07 3002 7100, Monday to Friday, 9 am - 5 pm, to inquire or make a booking. Please note that there are a limited number of wheelchair spaces available per show.

Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience the transformative power of dance and storytelling during DANCE24. There is a vast variety of experiences to enjoy, so visit Metro Arts this May and be part of a celebration that honours the past while shaping the future of dance.

Matriarchs
22/05/2024 -- 25/05/2024
$30 pp + booking fee
Metro Arts' New Benner Theatre
West Village, 97 Boundary Street, West End 4101
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Metro Arts .

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Image credit Metro Arts.