Introduction
by Shirley McKecknie
The Niche Series is a body of work created by choreographer Sue
Healey during 2002 - 2003. It demonstrates how one choreographer
meets the challenges posed by new technologies and conflicting
demands.
In a time of shrinking funds for the arts many eminent dance artists
are seeking ways to extend the life of dance works through the
use of video and film. The ever-evolving technologies which can
enhance a dance production or aid in the conceptualisation of
a new work have contributed much to this development. The Conceiving
Connections research project has now conducted interviews with
seven Australian artists who have made significant contributions
to these new directions. Recordings of the interviews are held
by the Oral History Department of the National Library of Australia
(See publications, McKechnie, 'Oral history series'). Information
regarding content and access can be found on the NLA website www.australiadancing.org
Individuals interviewed in 2003 include choreographers Sue Healey,
Michelle Heaven, Chrissie Parrott, Hellen Sky, Anna Smith and
media artists Margie Medlin and John McCormick.
Sue Healey, choreographer and film maker provdes the following
information regarding the evolution of six works which began with
the short film Niche in 2002 and were subsequently developed in
several media and shown in different venues over the next eighteen
months. Her notes provide an example of one artist's response
to the challenges now facing many in the world of dance. Two short
films and an excerpt from Fine Line Terrain are part of the Forum.
"Unspoken Knowledges" An Umbrella Event of the 2003
Melbourne Festival.
http://sites.uws.edu.au/research/marcs/dance_forum/
Notes by Sue Healey—June 2003
The Niche series is devoted to the choreographed body and its
intricate occupation of space: from geographical exploration of
the imagination, to fantasies on habit, habitat and habitation.
It has traversed film, live performance, installation and international
collaboration.
6 works have been created in this series during 2002/2003. With
each work shaping its own place and context - but all sharing
the 'potency of the experience of space'.
- * Niche -the film
- * Niche - live solo
- * Niche/salon - installation
- * Niche/Japan - international collaboration with dancers from
The Aichi Arts Centre
- * Fine Line Terrain - major company work in Australia
- * Fine Line - a film
The Niche series has been developed over
several years, in association with lead performer Shona Erskine
and Victor Bramich, Lisa Griffiths, Nelson Reguera Perez, Nalina
Wait and dancers from The Aichi Arts Centre in Nagoya, Japan.
It has received additional funds from NSW Ministry for the Arts,
The Aichi Arts Centre, The Myer Foundation, Australia Council
and sponsorship from UNSW (and The Conceiving Connections Research
Project).
The effect of the work is cumulative. It elucidates the evolution
of a simple choreographic idea into a complex array of forms.
It is a reflection on the hybridisation of film, dance and architecture.
The Niche series has been an extensive journey, a moving geography,
a mapping of the ways of being in touch with each other and the
environment.
The work is accessible to a broad audience while being choreographically
rigorous and challenging. The main live component of the series - Fine Line Terrain -was
created with a development grant from the Australia Council. This
full length work was performed in early March 2003 in a season
at Bangarra Theatre, Sydney. This short season of 3 performances,
gained excellent feedback:
"..there was so much substance in Sue Healey's Fine Line
Terrain that it could have been overwhelming had it not been for
the quality and character of the dancing and the clarity of presentation....the
choreography is a dynamic mix of natural and highly stylised movement,
sharp and creamy phrasing, stillness and action...a memorable
performance" Jill Sykes (Sydney Morning Herald)
Fine Line Terrain is the result of research undertaken in The
Niche series and illustrates the significant success of a long
and systematic development period. With only a small creative
development grant, I was able to create and complete this work
and it is now ready for international touring. In essence, the
many years of research from the Niche series has enabled me to
create this work cost-effectively. It could not have been made
without the consolidation of several years of intense research
through the series.
On a personal artistic level, the development of my choreographic
ideas through this series has been immensely rewarding. Each part
has allowed a deeper and more complex investigation of the ongoing
theme of the inhabitation of space. I have never before experienced
such a fluid creative process and I believe that FINE LINE TERRAIN
has achieved a level of intricacy and sophistication that has
been my objective for many years. I was able to give employment
opportunities and professional development for 5 dancers and 4
artistic collaborators, further deepening my working relationship
with composer Darrin Verhagen, film-maker Louise Curham, lighting
designer Joseph Mercurio and dancer Shona Erskine. The project
also enabled me new collaborations with artists I have long admired
- Michael Pearce and the 4 other dancers Victor, Lisa, Nelson
and Nalina.
Audiences for this series have been diverse and numerous—
- * The film NICHE has been screened in Italy, Holland, United Kingdom,
Japan, NZ, Spain and Monaco and numerous Australian festivals,
winning Highly Commended Reeldance 2002, nominated for Best danec
film Ausdance awards 2002 and was one of five finalists in the
prestigious IMZ competition in Monaco 2002.
- * Niche-solo was shown to an invited audience at the Figtree theatre,
UNSW, July 2002.
- * Niche-salon was performed at Antistatic Festival The Performance
Space, Sydney and was described by Erin Brannigan in Realtime
as a "delicately and finely honed work evoking magical transformations
of proto-cinematic effects." October 2002
- * Niche-Japan enjoyed a sell-out season at The Aichi Arts Centre,
Nagoya Japan with a company of 12 Japanese dancers and Shona Erskine,
December 2002. It also was performed in Togo-town and Toyohashi
as a 'work in progress'.
- * FINE LINE TERRAIN was performed in Sydney in a short season
with a capacity crowd in the Bangarra theatre. Excerpts from Fine
Line Terrain have also been shown in Bodyworks at Dancehouse March
2003.
The film, Fine Line, winner of the Australian Dance Awards 'Best
Dance Film' in 2003, is the last component of the NICHE series.
It completes the process from film/solo, to live solo, to installation,
to live company work, to filmed company work. The filming was
completed in June 2003 and was shown with live excerpts from Fine
Line Terrain as part of the Unspoken Knowledges forum in Melbourne,
October 2003. The full length work toured to the Auckland Dance
Festival in November 2003 and has a formal season at the Sydney
Opera House in 2004.
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