Are you curious to know how stories and play can awaken your creativity?

Dance Integrated Australia’s inaugural multi art form workshop project, ‘Raconteurs’ is the latest creative happening in the heart of Byron Bay from Tuesday 14 – Friday 24 November 2017.

Led by Creative Director / Producer, Philip Channells and a host of associate artists living, working and playing in the Northern Rivers region, this 2-week project is equipped to inspire and seed new opportunities between emerging and established artists interested in collaborative, live performance making.

The project is part of Dance Integrated Australia’s Corner Residency Program, which was established by Channells in 2014 to support the development of independent artist’s work who are living in regional centres throughout the country.

 

Expressions of interest are now open!

 

Our local community has a rich history of diverse creative practice with many individuals and events gaining well-deserved support for the brilliant work they produce. But what inspired me to initiate the ‘Raconteurs’ project was born out of a lack of opportunity I personally experienced when I moved back to the region in 2013. These days, most of the commissions I receive are from other parts of the country and sometimes abroad, so although I love getting away from time to time, its really important to be able to invest in the local community and to reach out to other like minded creative people who are as equally hungry to make new creative connections as I am. Philip Channells

More about ‘Raconteurs’

The ‘Raconteurs’ project is designed to engage the local community interested in various aspects of theatre-making across a series of creative workshops. There are seven Raconteurs facilitating 19 workshops across the 2-week program.

Local creatives / artists / practitioners / raconteurs include: Bere, Kimberley McIntyre, Alona Rosenberg and Mark Swivel (Mullumbimby), Philip Channells (Clunes), Pob Sellors ‘aka DJ Pob’ (Federal), and joining the line up from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (USA) is guest artist, Bill Shannon (aka The Crutch Master). For a sneak peak of Bill’s work in a VISA commercial, click here.

Photo: Simon Fraser

Story-Entwining Workshop

Everyone, young or old have stories. Stories close gender, culture and time.

Let’s slow down and quiet up, being unafraid of the silence. Feel safe enough to allow the story that needs telling to rise from within and be shared. Venturing in our inner landscape, mapping life’s travels. So we can navigate the pathways and songlines of our deeper journey.

As a group we will explore the methodology of rites of passage, so the events in our lives can grow in meaning, can be more supportive and therefore truly transformational.
Bere will explain in simple terms the framework of this ancient and profound process. He will also guide the group in a shared adventure through story and play.

I’ve been places, played, danced and listened. As an educator I want you to know what’s within and hope to help bring the genius of each person out. To find they belong and have gift to offer the world.

It’s great to be asked to be part of this project. Near 20 years ago with Philip Channells, Phil Blackman and a group of young dancers, we were co-creating a work that was never completed. How exciting to venture some of the same ground with a new group of creative beings. Bere

More info

When: 12:30 – 4:30pm Thursday 16 & 23 November 2017.

Where: The Raconteurs Hub | Byron Bay Scout Hall, 28 Tennyson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481.

This is an accessible venue for people with mobility impairment.

Google Map of the Byron Bay Scout Hall

Who: This workshop is for everyone. Once all of our ancestors marked the events that shape us…, to support individuals and foster community.

Places limited to 10 people.

Workshop Pass (Purple): $80 full | $70 concession (8 hrs contact)

 

Contact & Registration

Register for Raconteurs and Bere’s workshop, or telephone / text Dance Integrated Australia’s Creative Director / Producer, Philip Channells on +61 432 073 304 or email.

For media inquiries, telephone / text Dance Integrated Australia’s Project & Communications Manager, Sean Campbell on +61 432 714 534 or email.

 

The Raconteurs project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia and is supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, Critical Path, Arts Northern Rivers and Byron Bay Scouts. Dance Integrated Australia is an Associate Organisation of Ausdance NSW 2016 – 2018.

Photo: Macushla Bere

BIOGRAPHY

Bere is a social change artist, story teller and facilitator of transitional processes that work with the core components of Rites of Passage, Wilderness Therapy and contemporary methodologies. For thirty years Bere has worked in Welfare, Youth Services, Outreach Education and Community Development and in the performing and visual arts.

He gained an Associate Diploma in Recreation and Outdoor Education (Footscray Institute of Technology 1985 – 1986); Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art (Victoria College Melbourne.1983 – 1984).

In his youth Bere studied classical dance at the National Theater Ballet School (Melbourne), later training and working with All Human Physical Theater Company creating and preforming Butoh pieces at Melbourne Spoleto Festival, Melbourne International Festival and Melbourne Fringe Festival (1988 – 1990). Bere later studied a variety of dance genres including classical, contemporary, jazz and butoh at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium of the Arts (1997 – 1998).

He is a Co-Founder and former Trustee of the Pathways Foundation which was established in 1995. He continues to create and run programs in a range of settings for NGO’s, schools, community groups and corporate clients across Australia and internationally including: New Zealand, USA & the UK.

Bere lives with his family on the NSW North Coast / Northern Rivers region in a house that he is still building… 7 years and counting.

Main Photo: Macushla Bere