Charcoal — Keia McGrady

Presented by Dancehouse, Sydney Dance Company and Australian Dance Theatre as part of ORBIT. 

— Regeneration after burning

Two dancers mark the stage with charcoal. As their footfalls gently move through Country, they inscribe a living conversation between spirit and landscape that spans generations.

Inspired by the regenerative power of cultural burning, Charcoal sees emerging choreographer Keia McGrady creates a visceral meditation on Country, lineage and the cycles of rebirth that are held in the land upon which we all walk.

The physical and invisible textures of the landscape manifest in a work steeped in ancestral knowledge drawn from deep collaboration with family.

Charcoal traces a dialogue between spirit, memory and land in a work where movement becomes sacred offering and the body transforms into canvas.

Lead Artist & Performer Keia McGrady (Githabul Migunberri Gomeroi)
Performer Amelia Jean O’Leary (Gamilaroi and Wadawurrung Yinarr)
Sound Composer Joshua Santospirito & Waveney Yasso (Yuwi Burra & South Sea Island)
Sound Engineer Joshua Santospirito
Lighting Designer & AV Jason James
Original Costume Designer Noah Johnson

Charcoal was originally developed as part of the BlakDance Residency Program, with financial assistance from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland QASP and Access Arts, and additional support from the Brisbane Powerhouse. As Performing Lines TAS’ Aboriginal Arts Mentor for 2023 the further development of Charcoal is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Arts Tasmania’s Aboriginal Arts Program, and Moonah Arts Centre.

ORBIT is a new touring program designed to take independent dance to the next level. Led by Australian Dance Theatre (SA), Dancehouse (VIC) and Sydney Dance Company (NSW), ORBIT will see exceptional independent choreographic works slingshot to multiple cities on a fully supported tour.

ORBIT’s 2026 program will feature Agitato byJo Lloyd, Charcoal by Keia McGrady, [ gameboy ] by Amy Zhang and Future History by Gabrielle Nankivell.

Running the gamut from a poignant mediation on country, an exploration of ingenuity in the face of ecological collapse, a choreographic reckoning with a virtuosic piece of classical music from 1823 and a video game inspired work about our digital lives, ORBIT offers audiences the chance to experience works from artists at the vanguard of contemporary Australian performance.