Future History — Gabrielle Nankivell

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

— Cycles upon cycles

Future History is a new ritual for a world in a constant state of flux.

Nankivell and her collaborators locate the body within cycles of global uncertainty, extinction, conflict, epidemic and catastrophic climate events to create a dance that thrives on the edge of oblivion.

Illuminating the vulnerability and resilience implicit on life on Earth, Nankivell uses every facet of her physicality to embody everything from the jittering of microscopic organisms to seismic ecological shifts.

Future History connects the personal and universal in a thrilling and urgent exploration of what it means to live here now, then and in the future.

Lead Artist Gabrielle Nankivell
Creative Collaborators Luke Smiles, Martin del Amo, Kristina Chan, Joshua Thomson, Rasmus Ölme & Vânia Vaneau
Composer Luke Smiles
Dramaturg Martin del Amo
Costume Concept & Realisation Harriet Oxley
Set and Lighting Realisation Meg Wilson

The creative development of this work has been generously supported by The Government of South Australia Arts South Australia, Australian Dance Theatre’s International Centre for Choreography, The Mill’s Emerging Producer Xchange, Stockholm University of the Arts, Lieues Lyon, Legs on the Wall.

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.