Proper Motion - curriculum vitae
ABN: 29272580270 Email: info@propermotion.dance Phone: 0422492946
Proper Motion’s artists are based along the South Coast of NSW between Sydney and Batemans Bay. We primarily work on Dharawal and Yuin country. We are a shifting and flexible group of professional movers who are connected to the areas on which we work, either currently living, raised or trained in the area. Our place informs our work, not just within the content of our projects but also within our working practices. Over the past two years the current group have been meeting weekly in Wollongong and Nowra to share our practices and work together on projects.
The term Proper Motion comes from the field of Astronomy and in very basic terms refers to the movement of stars in the sky as measured against other stars.
Current members include
Lisa Maris McDonell: choreographer, contemporary dancer, Flamenco dancer, dance therapist Linda Luke: Bodyweather practitioner, choreographer, academic Saskia Ellis: contemporary dancer, choreographer, writer Jack Tuckerman: contemporary dancer, choreographer, visual artist Bubblez (Andrew Phan): Hip hop dancer, dance educator Maddy Backen: contemporary dancer Madi High: contemporary dancer, dance educator Susan Kennedy: actor, Suzuki practitioner, physical theatre artist Thomas Doyle: lighting designer, actor Corey Zerna: producer (dance trained)
Projects
2023 Kauyumari
Kauyumari was choreographed by Mexican choreographer, Raúl Tamez (2022 NY Bessie Award for outstanding choreographer / creator).
Presented at Happy Hour, ReadyMade Works, Sydney in April 2023 and in August, 2023 at the International Festival of Contemporary Dance in Mexico City in the Teatro de la Danza Guillermina Bravo.
Kauyumari was commissioned by Proper Motion and supported by La Infinita Compañia via FIDCDMX.
2023 Optimal Stopping
Born of the 2020 project Dances From a Pandemic, Optimal Stopping saw Proper Motion dancers Maddy Backen, Bubblez, Saskia Ellis, Susan Kennedy, Linda Luke, Jack Tuckerman and Madi High collaborate with Mexico’s La Infinita Compañia in a performance that saw dancers across different practices, cultures, abilities and generations come together in an effort to move together with shared purpose whilst remaining authentic to their individual dance and personal histories.
Optimal Stopping was presented at Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, April / May 2023 (Merrigong Theatre Company) and in August, 2023 at the International Festival of Contemporary Dance in Mexico City in the Teatro de la Danza Guillermina Bravo.
Optimal Stopping was supported by Create NSW and Sydney Dance Company through the Beyond the Studio Fellowship, Merrigong Theatre Company through Merrigong X, La Infinita Compañia through FIDCDMX and private donors through The Australian Cultural Fund.
2020-2022 The $20 Commissions Project and The Lobster
The $20 Commissions project invited choreographers from around the world to submit works that they considered to be worth $20 of their time and professional energy. The works submitted were woven together into an evening length performance performed by Lisa Maris McDonell.
Participating choreographers: Anna Akabali (Turkey), Crystal Pite (Canada), Kay Armstrong (Australia), Lacina Coulibaly (Burkina Faso / USA), Henrietta Baird (Australia), Bubblez (Australia), Philip Connaughton (Ireland), Ryuichi Fujimura (Australia), Elizabeth Cameron Dalman (Australia), Gaby Hernandez (Mexico), WeiZen Ho (Australia), Helen Johnstone (Australia / UK), Ali Kenner Brodsky (USA), Lady Hart (Australia), Julie-Anne Long (Australia), Gabrielle Neuhaus (Israel), Meagan O’Shea (Canada), Nick Power (Australia), Annalouise Paul (Australia), Vivienne Rogis (Australia), Henry Torres Blanco (Mexico), Sue-Ellen Chester (Ireland), Susan Van Pelt Petry (USA), Emma Saunders (Aus)
The Lobster was presented at Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, June 2022 (Merrigong Theatre Company). Video iterations presented at Flock Fest UK and Made From Scratch (Merrigong Theatre Company).
The $20 Commissions Project was supported by Merrigong Theatre Company and Performing Lines through their Digital Artist Residency, ReadyMade Works through a Moving Ideas Residency and Create NSW through a small project grant.
The Lobster was supported by Merrigong Theatre Company through their Merrigong X program.
2020 - Illawarra Dance Portraits
A series of video portraits of people living on Dharawal and Yuin country that maintain a dance practice, whether professionally or just because they love to dance. Dancers: Emmanuele Bettari, Jessica Hewitt, Opal Russell, Bubblez (Andrew Phan), Pete Worboys, Aviva Sheb’a, Ethan Green, India Stewart, Zoe Brown, Helen Johnstone, Viji Venkat, Rithika Yanamandram, Rohit Kumar Yanamandram, Susan Kennedy, Lucy Angel, Sophie, Jasmin Lassila.
Videos were presented online via social media and website as well as individual videos being presented at;
305 and Havana International Improv Festival. Florida, USA 305 and Havana International Improv Festival. Havana, Cuba Desert Edge Global Film Festival. India Desert Edge Global Film Festival. Nepal Movi /mentale Festival. Naples, Italy Dance Days Chania. Greece
Supported by Merrigong Theatre Company through their 2020 Reboot grants.
2020 - Dances From a Pandemic
Online new work development in response to the COVID19 pandemic. Featuring Proper Motion dancers Lucy Angel, Opal Russell and Carina Serray in collaboration with La Infinita Compañia (Mexico).
Supported by Wollongong City Council COVID grants.