Australia’s leading choreographic centre for research and development, Critical Path, turns 20 in 2025. To celebrate, from 14 – 16 November, the organisation will open its doors with free program Every Wild Idea.
Curious minds, heritage fans and passers-by to witness artists at work; dive in archival treasures in sound and on film. The festival will take place in Critical Path’s one-of-its-kind heritage listed dance space, the Drill Hall, located in the idyllic inner-east harbourside suburb Rushcutters Bay.
“Critical Path was established in 2005 to fill a recognised gap in the independent dance sector in NSW – providing a ‘critical’ pathway through which professional dance-makers could innovate their choreographic practice.” says Critical Path’s Artistic Director, Agnès Michelet. “Twenty years on, Critical Path stands proud as a unique and significant contributor to the dance scene in Australia.”
Every Wild Idea will kick off on Friday 14 November with live performance, artists in real-time ideation playfully curated by Azzam Mohamed who blends street, club and African dance forms. In the spirit of experimentation, research and risk-taking, seven artists will improvise and create in real-time while audiences are free to roam and witness the energy of process-in-action.
Breakthroughs, filmed and directed by award winning arts documentary and film maker Deborah May, will premiere across the weekend. May unveils the essence of artistic breakthroughs through the eyes of five extraordinary Australian dance artists. What happens when we follow a flash of inspiration over time? The moment when memories, cultures and fragments of practice connect with renewed vitality.
“Dance is often ephemeral and although documentation is vital in consolidating and propagating our shared history, the video and stills gathered often remain largely unseen or unused and the artists are seldom given a voice” says May.
“Drawing from the rich archive collected by the artists and Critical Path with new video sequences and recordings, Breakthroughs proposes to present an aspect of this pivotal yet largely unseen work in a way that will engage and inspire audiences and lead to a greater understanding of the real work necessary to making exceptional art.”
On Sunday 16 November join dance and multimedia artist and writer Ira Ferris for the launch of the special edition of Critical Dialogues #16, celebrating 20 years of Critical Path alongside Vignettes flickers fades: a text, a sound montage and a map.
A conversation between artist-archivists Ira Ferris and Tammi Gissell examines new experimental approaches to archiving in a dance context. Plus a music performance by Alexandra Spence and a dance performance by Ryuichi Fujimura.
“The aim of Vignettes flickers fades is to reflect not only the significant moments in Critical Path programs and activities, but to invoke sounds, smells, colours of Drill Hall,” says Ira Ferris. “Its water-based location and porous features that imbue creative processes.”
Every Wild Idea
The Drill Hall – Critical Path, 1C New Beach Rd, Darling Point
Dates: 14 – 16 November 2025
Bookings: www.humanitix.com
For more information, visit: www.criticalpath.org.au for details.
Image: Azzam Mohamed, Why is this Mine, Choreographic Lab 2021 – photo by Anna Kucera