LGI/

Access Statement

Lucy Guerin Inc (LGI) is committed to improving access and inclusion for Deaf and Disabled dance artists.

Ongoing improvements will actively aim to:
– address barriers to access and participation, and
– enable Deaf and Disabled artists to access  LGI’s  programs and studio resources with the same opportunity, ease and freedom as any other artist

LGI’s Disability Action Plan 2020-2024 (DAP) lays out a five-year plan to improve the provision of access and inclusion for Deaf and Disabled artists at WXYZ Studios and in the Company’s studio programs.

The DAP makes a commitment to taking positive actions to embed access and inclusion into the Company’s programs, deepen relationships with the Deaf and Disabled communities, and increase knowledge in the wider dance community.

A summary of LGI’s Disability Action Plan is available to download here as a Word document.

An accessibility guide to WXYZ Studios is downloadable here as a Word document or available to read on the website here.

Partnership between Arts Access Victoria and Lucy Guerin Inc

We are delighted to announce this new multi-year partnership (starting 2021), which seeks to increase the engagement of Deaf and Disabled artists at WXYZ Studios and with LGI, and to build capacity and knowledge in the broader community about access and inclusion through a wide range of activities. More info available here.

For more information, please contact Tom Pritchard: tom@lucyguerininc.com

Updated: September 2020

PIECES

PIECES is an evolution of Lucy Guerin Inc’s annual performance program Pieces for Small Spaces.

The choreographers selected for the 2021 season are Michelle Heaven, Lee Serle and co-choreographers Harrison Hall & Andrew Treloar.

The 2020 season, due to take place in December 2020, was delayed by one year, and will now take place in late 2021. The programmed choreographers (listed above) have continued to be supported over this period via other programs in partnership with The SUBSTATION.

PIECES offers three choreographers the opportunity to make 20-minute works that premiere in a formal season at The SUBSTATION, Newport. This refreshed format seeks to enable a deeper choreographic exploration and offer the space to develop a larger idea.

The selected artists research and develop their work at WXYZ Studios, where studio space is offered in-kind. A strong focus of LGI’s support is directed towards interrogating the process of conceiving, making and rehearsing to develop bold, new ideas that challenge existing notions of dance as well as refine the artists’ own choreographic practices.

Artists are creatively supported by LGI and The SUBSTATION through discussions with Lucy Guerin, the Director of The SUBSTATION, Brad Spolding, and LGI’s current Resident Director.

The 2019 season included three new works by Melbourne-based artists Sarah Aiken, Siobhan McKenna and Geoffrey Watson SC. It was presented by Lucy Guerin Inc and The SUBSTATION, with a six-show season of performances in December 2019.

Discover every Piece for Small Spaces program by scrolling to the dedicated section of our Works page.

Established in 2005, Pieces for Small Spaces has supported the work of emerging and independent choreographers annually. Learn more about the history and background of Pieces for Small Spaces here

With thanks to the continued support of PIECES from the Angior Family Foundation and City of Melbourne
Lead image: Pieces (for Pieces) (2019) by Sarah Aiken. Credit: Gregory Lorenzutti

Out of Bounds

Inspired by the experimental New York dance-scapes of the 80s and 90s and born of a need to bring the Victorian dance community together again in the wake of a global pandemic, Out of Bounds is an exciting new sharing platform for artists presented by two of Australia’s leading dance companies, Lucy Guerin Inc and Phillip Adams BalletLab.

Out of Bounds invites independent Victorian dance artists to present a short showing of their recent choreographic investigations to local audiences and fellow artists. The initiative provides artists with the opportunity to receive creative feedback from both organisations’ respective Artistic Directors, Lucy Guerin AO and Phillip Adams, as well as from attending audience members and peers.

Lucy Guerin Inc and Phillip Adams BalletLab are delighted to announce the following participants for Out of Bounds March 2021 Program:

Amelia Jean O’Leary, Benjamin Hurley, Gabrielle Fallon, Gulsen Ozer, Hayley Does, Hillary Goldsmith, Isabelle Beauverd, Jake Preval, Jennifer Ma, Jo Lloyd, Jo White, Jonathan Homsey, Lydia Connolly-Hiatt, Malika Berney, Oliver Savariego, Piaera Lauritz, Rachael Wisby, Rebecca Jensen, Reuben James, Samakshi Sidhu, Sandra Parker, Thomas Woodman, Wendy Wu and Yuiko Masukawa.

The showings will take place across the weekend of 27 and 28 March at Phillip Adams BalletLab’s South Melbourne performance space, Temperance Hall.

Access the full program and book tickets here
The second Out of Bounds will take place at WXYZ Studios in September 2021.

Image: Jeff Busby

Dance Dialogues
Talks, Forums and Special Events

LGI constantly seeks ways to play an active role in both local and global contemporary dance discourse. This desire extends beyond the Company’s performance and participatory programs and can include talks, forums and film showings. Through these activities, we invite the dance community and wider public to discover, learn, debate and discuss themes and subjects important to contemporary dance.

Dance Dialogues: Online series
From September 2020, Dance Dialogues will be hosted online, offering conversations between dance artists exploring what practice is now. Two artists are invited to discuss their perspectives on practice and art-making in a relaxed hour-long chat, including an audience Q&A.

Upcoming conversations:

• Dance Dialogues w/ Teaching
7:30-8:30pm, Thu 6 May 2021
Live at WXYZ Studios plus livestreamed via Zoom.
Registrations open at 1pm, Thursday 22 April - links to be posted here and via social media.

Join our panel of experienced contemporary dance teachers as they discuss their current ideas and approaches to teaching. Featuring Helen Herbertson, Jo Lloyd, Raina Peterson and Jo White.

Drawing from their own diverse perspectives, our panel will consider questions on pedagogical practice including:

• Where does teaching locate itself in an individual’s wider dance practice and what opportunities might it offer to them?
• What should be taught? Is a daily professional class still relevant to dancers and what skills do they need to build and maintain?
• What’s needed for an artist to become a confident teacher?

This conversation is for teachers, dancers, choreographers and the broader community and will be followed by an audience Q&A

Recordings and transcripts of previous conversations are available by clicking the artists’ names below:

• Angela Goh and Chloe Chignell: 10 September 2020
• Lee Serle and Maya Zbib: 24 September 2020
• Rebecca Hilton and Chrysa Parkinson: 8 October 2020
• Joel Bray and Dan Koop: 22 October 2020
• Jo Lloyd and Rebecca Jensen: 11 November 2020
• Tere O’Connor and Lucy Guerin: Thu 10 December 2020
• Phillip Adams, Lucy Guerin and Rebecca Hilton, facilitated by Angela Conquet: 4 February 2021
• Caroline Bowditch and Luke Pell: Thu 4 March.

Find out about upcoming Dance Dialogue events by signing up to our enews or following us on Facebook.

Critter
Critter is an artist feedback program facilitated by LGI to provide a platform for artists to generate critical exchange.

An evolution of First Run which began in 2008, Critter provides artists with a tailored opportunity to share material with a critical outcome and initiate discussion relevant to their new work’s stage of development.

Artists are invited to think broadly to formulate the most appropriate and useful format of Critter for their project’s stage of development. This could include a sharing of material and discussion to generate critical feedback with peers, or inviting subject experts to offer further insight or context to their project.

Critter is an open, artist-centred and malleable space of possibility.

For news of the next Critter session, sign up to our enews and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Secondments
LGI regularly offers Secondment places during the creation of new works.

This is an opportunity to experience a new LGI work in creation, offering insight into the identity and culture of the Company and the choreographic process currently in development by Lucy Guerin.

Secondments normally last for one week. Every endeavour is made to include the secondee in practical tasks and discussions during rehearsals as well as inviting them to join company class. However, at some stages of the process may be observing only.

LGI Secondments are typically open to final year students, new graduates, and dancers during their initial years of professional practice.

In 2021, there are two types of secondment opportunities available:

• Dancer
• Choreographer/Dramaturg/Director

Applications are now closed for 2021 Secondments.

Get the latest Secondment information first by subscribing to our enews and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Auditions

There are currently no audition opportunities with LGI.

To hear about Audition opportunities first, please subscribe to our enews.

LGI seeks to support artists who are creating work that contributes to the development of dance-making and choreography in Australia.

In addition to LGI’s Residency, Class & Workshop programs, LGI has also supported the development and presentation of new work through commissions and other modes of support.

These have included:

– Merge (2015) by Melanie Lane

– P.O.V. (2013) by Lee Serle

– NOWNOWNOW (2010) by Luke George

– Bromance (2010) by Alisdair Macindoe