Immerse Labs with Omer Backley-Astrachan

Creativity and discovery cannot be accessed through a system of thought. It requires a disruption of logic. For every question we ask, infinite questions proceed with infinite answers.

This workshop will follow a string of games, tasks, and exercises to increase our capacity for attention, and open up for a multiplicity of focal counterpoints and layers of awareness. We will amplify internal feedback mechanisms and discuss the fine line between following and rebelling.

This workshop is open to people with and without a professional dance background, who are interested in developing an intimate and profound dialogue with the moving body, its legacy, and the unknown.

Date: Saturday 3rd May, 10am-1pm
Venue: QL2 Studio, Gorman Arts Centre
Cost: $44 + BF/GST

About Omer:

Omer Backley-Astrachan is a choreographer and educator with a diverse artistic background. His body of work spans choreography, installation, film, multimedia, and research.

As a performer, Omer has worked with leading companies and choreographers including Kamea Dance Company, Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, Idan Cohen Dance Company, Jerusalem Dance Theatre, Marina Abramovic, Mel O'Callaghan, Kay Armstrong, Dean Walsh, Sue Healey and Joshua Thomson.

Over the past decade, Omer has been working within the heart of Australia's arts industry. He continuously engages with Sydney Dance Company, Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub, Dance Makers Collective, and FORM, all of whom play a crucial part in supporting his career and the development of his practice.
Omer has created four full-length works, including Rhapsody, Valley, TOHU, and his newest work, Common Place, which will tour to Vancouver in Nov 2025.
In 2018, Backley-Astrachan was appointed Course Coordinator at Sydney Dance Company's Pre- Professional Year, where, for the next five years, he mentored the next generation of leading dance creatives in Australia. Omer also created two works with the Pre-Professional Year dancers, including Fugue (2020) with esteemed composer Jane Sheldon and Folk (2021) for their Carriageworks season.

In 2024, Omer was appointed producer and associate artist with Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub. In this role, Omer collaborates with Catapult to support the independent sector in all its facets. Throughout his creative partnership with Catapult, Omer created three dance works, including Twelve Tall Trees (2017), Human Remains (2020), and Rhapsody (2023) which presented as part of the New Annual Festival.

Omer actively advocates for progress in the dance sector. He does so through a multitude ofv roles including mentoring, producing, choreography and education. His contributions have earned recognition through peer and press reviews, and presentations at renowned global venues.