Are there songs you should never dance to . . . privately or in public? Sydney choreographer and dancer Martin del Amo joins forces with Lismore-based dance artist Phil Blackman to respond to this unusual proposition . . . and try.

Their chosen songs are either too famous, utterly obscure or extremely cheesy. And yet, by choosing to dance to the seemingly undanceable, the artists playfully entice the audience to witness a series of attempts – against all odds – with as much dignity, resilience and humour as possible.

In the last two years Dance Integrated Australia has landed in the hills of the Northern Rivers Region, its arrival in this landscape is something of a growing haven for dance in this area as well as offering opportunities for the broader dance sector in NSW and Australia. Meeting and working with Martin has been a deeply rich experience, a ‘no holes barred’ kind of exchange of ideas and concepts. Phil Blackman

This activity is part of a new initiative of Dance Integrated Australia, ‘The Corner Residency Program’. This initiative supports various stages of development of independent artists work from across the country by providing access to an affordable working environment in rural NSW. Based at the Federal School of Arts building in the historical NSW village, just 30 mins inland from Byron Bay, del Amo and Blackman will work collaboratively between 2 – 13 February 2015.

Del Amo and Blackman invite people with an interest in dance / theatre to witness the final stage development of Songs Not To Dance To in an open studio showing 7pm on Friday 13 February. This work is produced by Performing Lines for FORM as part of their premiere season at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre.

This is an exciting opportunity for the Federal community to host two of Australia’s leading dance practitioners. A world-class act such as Martin del Amo working with one of our best local artists, Phil Blackman is a project certain for success. Philip Channells

For more information about the work, click here

The Corner Residency Program open studio showing #1:

Where: The Chapel @ Jasper Corner, Federal NSW

When: Arrive 6:30pm for 7pm start Friday 13 February 2015

Cost: FREE

BIOGRAPHIES

Martin del Amo

Originally from Germany, Martin is a Sydney-based choreographer and dancer. He started out as solo artist, acclaimed for his full-length solos fusing idiosyncratic movement and intimate storytelling. In recent years, Martin has also built a strong reputation as creator of group works and solos for others including Slow Dances For Fast Times (2013), The Little Black Dress Suite (2013) and Mountains Never Meet (2011). His Helpmann Award-nominated Anatomy of an Afternoon, which premiered at the Sydney Opera House in the 2012 Sydney Festival, was recently presented with great success at Southbank Centre in London. Martin’s work has toured nationally in Australia and internationally to the UK, Japan and Brazil.

Phil Blackman

Phil is an independent dancer and choreographer who lives and works in Lismore, situated in the NSW Northern Rivers region. He has a BA Dance Major from Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) (2003). His most recent credits as dancer include Railway Wonderland directed by Julian Louis (NORPA, 2012) and Beautiful Bones choreographed by Brian Lucas (NORPA, 2012). Solos include In Search of Fluidity and Landscape of a Memory presented as part of short works programs at NORPA and Advance Australia What? (2013) and Man of Colour (2014) created and performed for The Most KABARET presented by Real Artworks. Phil is the dance facilitator for local disability service provider R.E.D. Inc. and choreographed a segment for Sprung!! Integrated Dance Theatre’s Dwell – A Triple Bill (2013), under the artistic directorship of Philip Channells. Phil also teaches movement and drama at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium of Music and regularly facilitates workshops.

Main Photo: Heidrun Lohr