Common Anomalies

FORM Dance Projects Common Anomalies Bhenji Ra, Carl Sciberras and Imanuel DadoCapturing a unique snapshot of a world of diverse and interconnected people, multi-ethnic and globalised, FORM Dance Projects presents an exciting triple bill of contemporary dance performances by young artists in Common Anomalies at the Riverside Theatres from 2 November 2017.

Vastly different in style, the three works by Imanuel Dado, Bhenji Ra, and Carl Sciberras will explore each of the performer’s unique personal histories. The performances adapt breakdance, visual art, contemporary techniques, vogue and folklore styles in dynamic vignettes.

Each performer’s work will have a unique approach however the common thread between the pieces is the anomalies of each artist – the fusing of things rarely seen together, to create something unique and personal for each. The three works in Common Anomalies includes:

What We Don’t See – Imanuel Dado attempts to journalise some of his questions about life decisions and second-guessing including artistic choices, career pathways and personal relationships.

Pink Ranger with a Martha Graham effect – Bhenji Ra explores the feminine body in popular culture, modern dance and the ballroom scene.

Gbejniet – An ode to a soup recipe by Carl Sciberras’ nan. Like Sciberras, the soup has origins in Italy, Malta and Australia, and is used as a metaphor to explore mixed race heritage. Sciberras will cook the soup and dance (his)tory in-between.

“Myself, Imanuel and Bhenji all hail from families with diverse Asian and European backgrounds, says performer Carl Sciberras. “Our ancestry, our experiences and our communities directly impact our decisions, our views and our approaches to making. Although we are very different artists working in different ways, these solos are all personal expressions. This program is an important and exciting venture for us and we’re excited to share it with audiences.”

Imanuel Dado is a Perth based artist, who has trained in various martial arts and achieved various sports and athletic achievements. Starting his dance training with B-boying performing with TRACKS Dance Company he then furthered his studies graduating from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2011.

Working with companies of various art forms and independent choreographers around Australia and Europe, his choreographic interests lies with physical theatre and cross art form fusion, honing his own movement style, incorporating his diverse training into his contemporary practice.

Bhenji Ra is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice combines performance and video, who recently won the Keir Choreographic Award 2018. Her work is often concerned with the dissection of cultural theory and identity, centralising her own personal histories as a tool to reframe performance.

With an emphasis on occupation and at times collective action, her work plays with the multiplicities of spectacle while offering moments of becoming and alternative modules of community to be considered. She belongs to the collective Club Ate, alongside artist Justin Shoulder. Together they have shown their work at the 8th Asia Pacific Triennale, ICA London and most recently ACMI, Melbourne.

Carl Sciberras is a dance artist and producer from Western Sydney. In 2016, Carl was awarded the City of Parramatta’s Creative Fellowship, and in 2017 is the recipient of a Strut SEED Residency, a participant in the Australia Council’s Future Leaders Program and presented his work internationally for the first time at the Malta International Arts Festival.

He is the Founder/Director of two arts collectives: flatline – a visual art and dance collaboration that creates performance, installation and artworks that have been presented across Australia and Asia, and Dance Makers Collective – a group of nine choreographers and dancers from Sydney who collaborate to create shows.

Common Anomalies
Lennox Theatre – Riverside Theatres, Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
Season: 2 – 4 November 2017
Information and Bookings: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

Image: Bhenji Ra, Carl Sciberras and Imanuel Dado feature in Common Anomalies (supplied)