23 July 2021 Lismore, NSW
As an antidote to speed networking we are offering up to 30 practitioners the chance for a conversation with sector peers, advisors and leaders.
The idea is not to network, not to sell or to buy, not to SPEED anything. A conversation amongst peers at various stages of their careers should ideally be of interest to both parties and whilst one may be seeking advice from the other, all participants should be open to share and learn.
If you would like to participate follow this link to fill in your expression of interest (before 9 July)
SLOW TALK is part of a 3-day gathering for artists working with and connected to dance, choreography and embodied practice, organised by Critical Path with support from NORPA
Contributor Biographies
Jala Adolphus is an independent producer and editor in the field of contemporary dance. She has produced for a selection of leading Indonesian choreographers and directors that work across the mediums of stage and film including Garin Nugroho and Rianto. She is engaged with the discourse, practitioners and events that connect artists, academics, audiences and programs both within Southeast Asia and the Pacific and between Europe.
She has worked on Indonesian programming with Australian and European international festivals and government organisations and is a core member of the Asian Network for Dance (AND+) and the Asian Producers Platform (APP).
Jane Fuller is the Co-Director of the Independent Producing House: Shawcandy; a NSW Northern Rivers-based Independent Producer House working and living on Bundjalung Country of the Widjabul/Wyabul peoples. With specific focus is on adapting ways of working with development and touring models for regional Independent artists, ensuring these Independent artists have direct access to local producer services to enable ways of getting work to markets.
Over 25 years Jane has held leadership roles with Placemaking; Boomerang Festival, Ubud Readers & Writers Festival, APAM, BlakDance, OzFestival Indonesia, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Vitalstatistix, NORPA, Sydney Mardi Gras and Sydney Festival.
Jenna Mathie is an experienced producer and project manager with a practice grounded in accessibility, inclusion and celebration of local artists. Currently with NORPA, Jenna was previously at Perth Festival where she delivered local, national and international work as well as overseeing the festival’s expansive Connect Program including arts industry development and creative learning.
With more than a decade of experience as a highly skilled project leader and professional collaborator, Jenna has worked across theatre, classical music, festivals and venues both nationally and internationally. Jenna has working with AWESOME Festival, Country Arts WA, the West Australian Ballet and The Blue Room Theatre.
Julian Louis is a theatre maker and has been the Artistic Director of NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts) based in Lismore, NSW since 2007. The company presents a contemporary arts program, made up of original productions, national and international touring works and community cultural events. Julian has directed theatre, opera and circus as well as large-scale site-specific works including Railway Wonderland (2012/2015), Journey to an Unnamed World (director/devisor), My Radio Heart (a co-production with Urban Theatre Projects), Open House (2011) a circus work performed in a residential house in Lismore. He was also part of the creative team that made Cockfight.
Julian directed the premiere production of the highly successful 13-Storey and has since been the Artistic Director of the follow up productions of 26-Storey Treehouse and 52-Storey Treehouse, all of which have toured extensively, including a tour to Holland. He trained as a performer in London with Philippe Gaulier.
Kate Usher is currently the Festival Director for Supercell: Festival of Contemporary Dance.
Previously she was Executive Director Ausdance QLD, Research and Project Officer at Positive Solutions, Associate Producer at Metro Arts, Producer at World Science Festival Brisbane, and her formative years were spent with the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in the Arts Programming team.
Kate provides business and career development support for Independent Artists on a consultancy basis. Across 2010- 2016 Kate was a member of the Ausdance Queensland management committee. In 2020, Kate was awarded the Weary Dunlop Fellowship for the Asialink Business Leaders program.
Marisa Snow is a Creative Producer with more than 15 years’ experience specialising in site-specific events and arts strategy. Marisa has worked with some of Australia’s leading arts institutions and festivals such as NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts), Sydney Festival, Sydney Theatre Company, Splendour in the Grass, Darwin Festival, Garma Festival, Boomerang Festival, and Belvoir Street Theatre.
More recently Marisa has developed an interest in place-making and space activation. She is Placemaking Officer for The Quad, Lismore. Marisa’s expertise includes; creative strategy; place-making, community consultation, creative producing, large-scale event production, project management, fundraising and business development.
Merinda Davies is an artist using performance, movement, installation and conversation to question the current structural paradigm of inequality. Her work is inspired by the environment, human and non-human social structures and the possibilities available to us in future imaginings. Her practice aims to find clarity and connection in the external world through deep listening, observation, and research into the emotional and physical states in our internal worlds.
She grew up on Bundjalung Land in Northern NSW, and is currently living on Kombumerri Land in South East QLD. Merinda is currently working on solo and collaborative projects for Gold Coast City Council, Placemakers*, Outer Space and The Walls Artspace.
Philip Channells is the founder and Creative Director / Producer of Dance Integrated Australia and is an Ambassador to the Bundanon Trust Artist in Residence program. His knowledge, skills and experience of working in dance and the disability sectors in Australia and abroad during the past 16 years has gained him credibility as one of Australia’s leading dance practitioners working across diverse cultures. Former Artistic Director of Restless Dance Theatre, Philip was one of the key facilitators and choreographers of the Catalyst Dance Masterclass Series during the 2012 & 2013 programs.
While based in London (2007 – 2009), working with Candoco Dance Company’s Foundation Course and the Cultural Shift project for emerging disabled choreographers at East London Dance, Philip worked with StopGAP Dance Company (Community & Health Artist) and Corali Dance Company (Project Manager). He founded The Age of Unreason – a company of dancers over 60 and his cargogreen focusing on dance education.
Rhoda Roberts has made a substantial contribution to the media, performing and Indigenous arts in Australia as a journalist, broadcaster, actor, producer, writer, arts advisor and artistic director. Rhoda is a proud member of Bundjalung Nation, Wiyebal Clan of northern NSW and south-east Queensland.
Rhoda was the Founder and Director of the Festival of Dreaming 1995 to 2009. Creative direction roles include Director of the Garma Festival, which is produced by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, Head of First Nations Programming for the Sydney Opera House, Creative Director of the Parrtjima Festival in Alice Springs, Director of the Boomerang Festival and Associate Artist of the Northern Rivers Performing Arts.
Rosie Dennis is the current Artistic Director and CEO of Bleached Arts which produces Bleach* The Gold Coast Festival – Australia’s leading place-based contemporary arts festival. Prior to joining Bleached Arts, Rosie was the AD/CEO of Urban Theatre Projects (2012–2019) where she delivered an exceptional program of place-based contemporary work including the award-winning Home Country (2017) and BANKSTOWN:LIVE (2015). During her tenure with UTP, Rosie also directed two documentaries Bre & Back (SBS) and One Day for Peace (ABC). Prior to UTP, Rosie was the inaugural Live Art Curator at Campbelltown Arts Centre, where she curated and produced the award-winning MINTO:LIVE. From 2006-2012 Rosie performed her work at more than 25 festivals internationally. She resides with her partner, two children and two dogs in a seaside town in Northern NSW.