Congratulations to Adelaide-based emerging artists with a disability, Jianna Georgiou and Matthew Shilcock who have both been selected to be part of the 2013 JUMP Mentoring program. Both Jianna and Matt recently collaborated with me on inPerspective #1 which they performed at Australian Dance Theatre’s ‘Rough Draft‘ and Ausdance SA’s ‘Choreolab In-Theatre‘ last year with dancers from the Adelaide College of the Arts (AC Arts).

JUMP Mentoring is a national program supported by the Australia Council for the Arts and is open to creative practitioners, producers, editors and curators who are in the first five years of their professional practice. It aims to make an impact on the early stages of a recipient’s career, help them gain networks, be inspired and exchange ideas, whilst working on an applied mentorship and creative project with a mentor who helps them jump to the next level.

Both Jianna and Matt follow the footsteps of friend and colleague, Lorcan Hopper (the first dancer with Down syndrome to attend an Australian tertiary dance course) who in 2012 attended technique classes at the AC Arts through the JUMP mentoring program. Lorcan was mentored by dance lecturer / resident choreographer, Peter Sheedy.

In 2013 I will work closely with Jianna (who was born with Down syndrome) as her personal assistant throughout her mentorship program at the (AC Arts) with her mentor, Lisa Heaven. Jianna will attend technique and composition classes with AC Arts students to develop her dance skills and will devise her own short choreography with her classmates which she will present at the end of the program. Her mentorship will be documented by film maker, Tim Standing from Daylight Productions.

I will also work very closely with Matthew (who has Osteogeneis Imperfecta) as his mentor whilst he develops his ‘Osteogenuine’ movement vocabulary. Inspired by the work of Sydney-based dancer / choreographer, Dean Walsh, Matt will use this vocabulary to devise the beginnings of new solo material which he will also show as a work-in-progress at the end of the year.

Jianna, Lisa, Matthew and I will travel together to Melbourne in February to participate in the JUMP induction program through Next Wave who will offer Mentees and Mentors their expertise and support throughout the year. This is a very exciting time for dance in Adelaide and I look forward to supporting Jianna, Matt (and Lorcan) in the next stages of their careers.

You can check out their JUMP profiles here, Jianna Georgiou and Matt Shilcock.