Embodied — M.COLLECTIVE

"Embodied" is a captivating double bill featuring two distinct pieces that delve into the depths of movement and expression.

In the first piece by Yuiko Masukawa, dancers navigate through whispers in the dark, strength found in shadows' embrace,Hope guides through the night.

The second piece by Chimene Steele-Prior unfolds with the dancers etching memories, longing, and desire to escape in whispers through the body.
Time passed and experienced, real and imagined.
A confluence of personal and collective history.
Three women dance….
A start

Yuiko Masukawa: Yuiko Masukawa is a Japanese choreographer based in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia. Her work brings together the inclusive and iconoclastic ethos of contemporary performance with her deep expertise of ballet. She is a current recipient of the The Australian Ballet’s Telstra Emerging Choreographer’s Award for her work 3.She is working to create a context for independent and inclusive dance in Australia through art creation, teaching and local and international residencies and platforms. 
Her performance work includes Yugen (The Australian Ballet, 2023), Running Machine (Arts House, 2022), why we are who we are (Bowery Theatre, 2022), Between Clouds (VCASS, 2021), Karaoke Project (Cave Yokohama, 2018). She was also Director/Choreographer for Melbourne City Youth Ballet (2013-2019).

In 2020, she undertook choreographic secondments with New York City Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet, supported by the Ian Potter Cultural Trust. Her works have been nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance in the 2018 Australian Dance Awards (Melbourne City Youth Ballet) and Design/Technical Achievement in the 2023 Green Room Awards (Running Machine).

Chimene Steele - Prior: Originally from Darkinjung Country, Chimene has worked as a performer with anarray of independent artists and companies. Most recently, Chimene performed in Project Animo’s inaugural season in 2022 in works by Alice Topp, Cass Mortimer-Eipper, Izzac Thomas and in solo work In Real Life by Kristina Chan. Chimene joined Australasian Dance Collective in 2023 for Lucie in the sky, by Amy Hollingsworth and in 2024, she was engaged to perform Future Cargo by Requardt and Rosenberg (UK) throughout the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Chimene worked extensively with Opera Australia between 2011-2021, touring throughout Australia and China. Chimene’s choreographic work has been presented at the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Lawler Theatre, Dancehouse, Melbourne Fringe Festival Hub and the Winter in Banyule Festival. Her solo work IN FORMATION II was nominated for a Green Room Award for Concept and Realisation in 2015.
Recently, Chimene has been exploring larger scale choreographies on students at Transit Dance, NICA, and Albert Park College. Chimene is a Certified Counter Technique Teacher and is passionate about facilitating dancers’ connection to joy and trust in their own bodies.

Arianna Marchiori: Arianna Marchiori was born in Padua, Italy and gained her first experience at Il Balletto di Castelfranco Veneto. At the age of 16 she moved to the USA to continue her training at the Boston Ballet School and graduated at San Francisco Ballet School. She began her career with Dortmund Ballet, Germany until she moved to London to perform with internationally renowned companies including English National Ballet, New English Ballet Theatre. She then continued her artistic journey working and touring with Ballet Ireland. Arianna’s repertoire continued to expand when she moved to Estonia and started working at Teater Vanemuine as a soloist. There she performed solo roles in works choreographed by Wang Yuan Yuan and Petr Zuska. In 2021, Arianna was invited to join the National Ballet of Ostrava as a soloist. Her vast repertoire includes soloist roles in Dangerous Liaisons by Krzysztof Pastor, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Corsaire, Nutcracker, Rossini Cards by Mauro Bigonzetti and Hora by Ohad Naharin. Since moving to Melbourne, Arianna has immersed herself in the creative scene, utilising her skills in event planning and production to curate unique experiences for audiences. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for bringing ideas to life, Arianna has established herself as a versatile professional, dedicated to fostering creativity and community in her endeavors. 

Stephanie Petersen: Australian dancer Stephanie Petersen, has been a member of the American Ballet Theatre, HET National Ballet and The Australian Ballet. Notable performances include the principal role of "Myrta" queen of the Wilis in American Ballet Theaters’ Giselle, Jerome Robbins’ “Afternoon of a Faun” and Christopher Wheeldon’s “After The Rain” with The Australian Ballet.In 2009 Stephanie was a guest artist with Christopher Wheeldon’s Morphoses, performing principal roles in “Commedia” and “Fool’s Paradise” and in that same year she became the youngest ever winner of The Australian Telstra Ballet Dancer of the Year award and people’s choice award.
Stephanie won the Gold Medal at the 10th Asian Pacific International Ballet Competition in Tokyo (2005) and upon graduating from The Australian Ballet School performed Odette/Odile in Swan Lake.


Jessica Thompson: Jessica trained at the Australian Ballet School and holds an Advanced Diploma of Dance (2003).She has worked as a company artist with Australia's two leading dance companies, The Australian Ballet and Sydney Dance Company. In 2011 she was awarded an Ian Potter Cultural Trust Grant to undertake artistic development in Europe and India.
In 2023 she performed as a guest artist with The Australian Ballet as part of their 60th birthday celebration seasons in Melbourne and Sydney. She also co-created and performed the work "Yugen" by Melbourne based choreographer, Yuiko Masukawa for Frame festival in Melbourne.
She is committed to honesty and sustainability in her relationship to environment, community and history through the expressive capacity of the body. She approaches dance as medium for embodied presence offering endless possibilities for expressive freedom and human connection.
Collaborators: Musical Performance Credits

Producer: Ivan Kyrov
Sound Designer: Alexander Nezhinskiy

Music Adapted from “The Firebird” 1919 by Igor Stravinsky, "Rite of Spring" 1913 by Igor Stravinsky and “Europe After the Rain” 2002 by Max Richter
Rearrangement by Alexander Nezhinskiy and Ivan Kyrov

Notice:
The arrangements are unique interpretations of the original compositions and are presented with the utmost respect and admiration for the original works.

Ivan Kyrov

From the cultural hub of Moscow to the vibrant underground scene of Melbourne's electronic music, Ivan Kyrov's journey is a blend of classical roots and modern innovation. Raised in a family of renowned ballet dancers and choreographers, Ivan's early exposure to the arts sparked a lifelong passion for music. Venturing into the world of electronic music three years ago, he discovered a new avenue for creative expression. Assuming the role of producer alongside sound designer Alexander Nezhinskiy, they meticulously deconstructed and reassembled the compositions of Igor Stravinsky and Max Richter, crafting a modern, electronically enriched reinterpretation of classical masterpieces.

Alexander Nezhinskiy

Hailing from Siberia, Russia, Alexander Nezhinskiy is a versatile artist with seven years of experience in sound design, composition, and music production. Beginning his journey as a sound designer and effects editor in the film industry, he has since expanded his repertoire to encompass roles as a sound designer and music composer across various media forms and live performances. Nezhinskiy now leads Evolsound, a forward-thinking studio dedicated to pushing the boundaries of sound, while also showcasing his diverse talents and creativity through crafting his own music under the alias Evolsleep.

From the cultural hub of Moscow to Melbourne’s dynamic underground electronic music scene, Ivan Kyrov’s journey epitomises a fusion of classical heritage and contemporary ingenuity. Growing up in a family renowned for ballet, Ivan’s early immersion in the arts ignited a lifelong love for music. While his classical piano training laid the foundation, his foray into electronic music 4 years ago opened doors to new realms of creativity. For this performance, Ivan alongside sound designer Alexander Nezhinskiy, meticulously deconstructed and reassembled the compositions of Igor Stravinsky and Max Richter, crafting a modern, electronically enriched reinterpretation of classical masterpieces.