Presented by VCA Dance

Three choreographed works by VCA Master of Dance students Forest Kapo, Jack Sheppard and Karen Kan facilitated by Dr Derrick Brown-Appenzeller.

Karen Kan's piece
A conversation between the reality world, the stage, the artists, cultures and gender within ballet, heels dance and the twilight of the traditional Chinese Theatre, Chinese Opera.

Archives of an Indigenous Body by Forest Kapo
Drawing from Māori epistemologies through pūrākau methodologies, Archives of an Indigenous Body as a work reimagines the archive as something not stored but lived—performed through relation, vibration, and time. In doing so, the performer becomes both record and witness, carrying the inherited embodiment of resistance and renewal. Holding space for what cannot be contained on paper: the persistence of life, the continuity of movement, as a remembering.

Yarn Fire by Jack Sheppard
Join Jack Sheppard for an experiential work in progress. Jack presents Yarn Fire, an embodied yarning circle, envisioned through the exploration of First Nations embodied Cultural landscapes. Through a process of somatic place-based deep listening, breath and spiritual wanderings, Jack invites audiences to participate in an embodied exploration of the body as nature. This research enacts cultural revival and healing practices by exploring the meeting places between First Nations place-based somatics, clairsentience and embodied imaginings.

Creative Credits
Performed and choreographed by Karen Kan, Forest Kapo and Jack Sheppard
Subject Coordinator: Dr Derrick Brown-Appenzeller
Head of Dance: Professor Carol Brown
Production Coordinator: Tia Wojcik

Run time
This performance will run for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes with a 10 minute interval.

Venue
This performance takes place in Studio 221, which is located in the St Kilda Road Performing Arts Building. Please meet front of house near the ramp on St Kilda Road to be admitted to the performance space.

Content Note
Jack Sheppard's workshop involves somatic exploration of the body and dance movement. The experience caters to both dancers and non-dancers. People with disabilities are welcome to participate at a pace and level that works to their abilities. If you do not wish to participate, inform Front of House staff upon your arrival and they will advise.

PARKING

The City of Melbourne has changed the parking restrictions around the Southbank Campus. Parking control hours are now expanded to 7am–10pm, seven days per week, and are capped at three hours. A $2-per-hour fee after 7pm is also now in place. There is no change to the $4-per-hour peak rate between 7am–7pm. Parking inspectors are regularly in the area fining drivers who overstay their meter, so we encourage everyone to be aware and avoid an expensive fine.

ACCESSIBILITY

All venues at the Southbank campus are wheelchair accessible. To read more about access services available at our venues, please visit: https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/access-our-events.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please stay home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms. Face masks are welcome in all settings for community and personal safety.
In order to account for drop-off in attendance, we overbook a select number of free events at the Faculty. If you have not arrived by the start of the performance, your ticket may be released to any waiting patrons at the door. Please arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the performance to secure your seat.
Admission to any of our concerts and events is strictly at the discretion of Front of House. We have zero tolerance for any disrespectful behaviour.

Image: The Glorious Now, Master student Zhimeng Bian, Photo by NON Studios, 2024