Supercell: Festival of Contemporary Dance – theatre preview

A first for Brisbane, the inaugural SUPERCELL: Festival of Contemporary Dance Brisbane presents contemporary dance in all its wildest forms from around the world, starting tomorrow. The festival will be held at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts from 18 through 25 February 2017 with a packed program of local and international artists, performances, workshops and conversations.

Co-­founded and curated by Kate Usher and Glyn Roberts, SUPERCELL was born one evening in the midst of a nasty tropical storm. The term (familiar to Queenslanders) refers to the collision of multiple particles to create a major event with widespread beauty, ferocity, spectacle and rejuvenation -­ it seemed the perfect description of a festival only Brisbane and its unique climate, could create.

The opportunity for Brisbane and Queensland to be the centre of dance in Australia and recognised on the global stage persuaded Usher and Roberts to forge ahead as they explain, “We were inspired to create a critical mass around the exciting activities already happening and to establish a contemporary dance festival that’s progressive, exciting and excellent but grounded and energised by the inter-­connectivity between local and visiting dance artists and multiple audiences, whether the dance in your lounge room type of attendee or those that live and breathe it everyday.”

SUPERCELL will celebrate Queensland’s place in the world while connecting audiences with a virtuosic community of artists and companies both locally and internationally. The launch 2017 program will present high-­calibre contemporary dance performances by Australian and International artists including hot and sandy Gold Coast company The Farm, unconventional Melbourne-­based duo and Keir Choreographic Award contenders, Sarah Aiken and Rebecca Jensen, as well as Sydney’s Amrita Hepi and New Zealand’s Jahra Wasasala, who will be performing their first nations’ proud piece.

International artists exclusive to SUPERCELL are, Switzerland’s Simone Truong, bringing her young and vibrant company to Brisbane. Direct from the Guangdong Dance Festival a program of hot new talent from China’s Pearl River Delta, such as the Guangdong Modern Dance Company plus acclaimed dance artists residing in Macau, Guangdong and Hong Kong. Additionally, SUPERCELL will open the festival with Brisbane trained and UK lauded Joseph Lau and Bridget Fiske.

SUPERCELL aims to cater to everyone from the casual dance lover to the professional artist, with a selection of workshops, dance classes and behind-­the-­scenes experiences. Tickets are available at supercelldancefestival.com

Other reviews you might enjoy:

• Brisbane Festival 2018 – a preview
• TANZ – dance review
• 4 Seasons (Expressions/CCDC) – theatre review