Four leading UK dance artists will take part in the inaugural FORM Independent Dance Exchange Australia (IDEA'24) festival in Sydney this August, showcasing the best of UK talent on the international stage. UK artists Sadiq Ali, Marc Brew, Maxine Doyle, and Sam Coren (representing Hofesh Shechter) will conduct workshops and participate in creative developments.
IDEA'24 is a groundbreaking new Sydney-based festival of creative ideas, workshops, and performances delivered by local and global leaders from First Nations practice, contemporary dance, circus, physical theatre, queer performance, and disability arts. The festival, running for several weeks from August 19, 2024, brings together some of the most in-demand and singular voices from Australia and around the world.
The British Council is proud to support these exceptional UK artists at IDEA'24:
Sadiq Ali: A mixed heritage contemporary circus artist and performance maker specializing in Chinese Pole, Ali crafts unapologetically queer works that serve as both artistic expressions and catalysts for social change.
Marc Brew: One of the UK's leading, pioneering, multi-disciplinary and inclusive theatre makers, Brew brings his wealth of experience in contemporary dance and choreography to IDEA'24.
Maxine Doyle: An independent choreographer and director known for her work with Punchdrunk, Doyle will collaborate with acclaimed Australian artist Gabrielle Nankivell. Together, they will explore creative processes and site-sympathetic performance, sharing their artistic dialogue through extended improvisation scores and creative practice.
Sam Coren, representing the work of Hofesh Shechter: A former dancer with the Hofesh Shechter Company, Coren will lead workshops exploring Shechter's distinctive movement fundamentals and creative process. Participants will delve into Groove & Rhythm, Totality, Energy & Emotion, and Floorwork, gaining insights into the choreographic style of one of the UK's most celebrated contemporary dance makers.
These UK artists will also participate in Idea Watercoolers – a fireside chat to share current creative practices, challenges and discoveries in an informal Q&A setting.
IDEA'24 is delivered in partnership with Critical Path, Brand X, Qtopia, Riverside Theatres, and the Sydney Opera House. The festival aims to provide participating artists with four weeks of diverse, creative, and thrilling experiences across various Sydney venues.
By supporting these talented UK artists to particpate in IDEA'24, British Council continues its mission to foster international cultural exchange and nurture global creative connections, facilitating valuable opportunities for dance artists from the UK and Australia to collaborate, learn from each other, and exchange innovative practices. For more information about IDEA'24 and the participating artists, please visit IDEA - FORM Dance Projects.