PRACTICE AND PLAY with Marianna Joslin and Shar Mitchell

PRACTICE AND PLAY 

● Share your practice: provide a platform for artists to showcase their unique styles and methodologies. 

● Foster creativity: encourage experimentation and innovation within their own communities. 

● Build connections: strengthen the local dance network by engaging with fellow dance artists and collaborators. 

● Enhance visibility: increase the visibility of independent artists and their work within the Northern Rivers region. 

● Respond to sector needs: addresses the needs identified in the Dance Sector Uplift report.

PRACTICE AND PLAY #4 with Marianna Joslin and Shar Mitchell brings together performance makers from various fields — dance, theatre, circus, design, music, and more — to explore themes of connection and disconnection in our globalised world. By engaging in movement, play, and the natural elements of lake and ocean, the event aims to inspire the creation of new, experimental performance projects.

What to expect: 

Community Building: Connect with like-minded artists and performers

Movement & Play: Explore embodied dance practices inspired by the natural surroundings

Creative Exploration: 

- Improvising with concepts shared throughout the day 

- Engage the nervous system through embodied movement 

- Experience nurturing through mother/father/other perspectives 

- Explore connection & disconnection with our disparate communities, cultures, land, & universe.

What to bring: 

- Comfortable Clothing: Suitable for indoor and outdoor movement

- Water Bottle: Stay hydrated throughout the day

- Notebook and Pen: Capture ideas and reflections

- Swimwear/Change of clothes: For site-specific lake and beach activities 

- Open Mind and Heart: Be ready to embrace new experiences and connections. 

Capacity: 20 places available / Cost: FREE! 

Express your interest today and become a part of this dynamic series, enriching our region with your artistic leadership and innovation. 

Contact Information: 

PRACTICE AND PLAY - Creative Producer, Philip Channells 

Phone: 0432 073 304 

Email: philipchannells@gmail.com

Main Image: Dominic Sullivan (Work By Dom) for PH(R)ASE//:1 - 'Pitch Lab'

BIOGRAPHIES

MARIANNA JOSLIN, who is a mother of a toddler, was born with a vibrant passion for the arts. In her youth, she immersed herself in theatre training, and her love for acrobatics was ignited by Vulcana Women’s Circus. As a young adult, she thrived in Brisbane's underground arts scene, appreciating its multidisciplinary nature.

Marianna has trained and performed with elite circus and physical theatre artists both in Australia and internationally. Career highlights include three years with The Ice Cream Factory Collective, creating cabarets and supporting artists in West End; her renowned female acrobatic duo, Twisted Hitch; Circa’s Wunderkammer at the Chamaleon Theatre, Berlin; the Primavera Exhibition 2016 at MCA Sydney with Mira Oosterweghel; national and international tours with Casey Douglas; the Sydney Opera House production Mad Hatter’s Tea Party; and Company 2’s Fallot and Le Coup.

Marianna co-produced and co-directed Fallot in collaboration with Chelsea McGuffin. Now based in the Northern Rivers, she works with Spaghetti Circus to mentor the next generation of circus stars. She was one of 11 artists selected to participate in the PH(R)ASE//:1 - 'Pitch Lab' residency co-facilitated by Katina Olsen (Wakka Wakka/Kumbomerri) and Miranda Wheen (Dance Makers Collective). Known for her dynamic stage presence and unique energy, Dirt and Candy describes her as having a "sheer exuberance and firecracker energy [that] is sure to leave you smiling."

SHAR MITCHELL, who is a mother of a teenager, brings over 25 years of experience in the dance industry, with significant contributions to multicultural dance, storytelling, and community engagement. Her role as CFO and Company Secretary at Dance Central Sydney involved managing events, artist growth, and cultural programs across NSW.

Shar's extensive travels with various dance companies and artists have deepened her respect and appreciation for diverse cultural traditions. Recently, she collaborated with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra on two seasons of Music That Makes You Move, which explored the connections between music, movement, and kinaesthetic learning. conducted by Monica Buckland and Sam Torrens.

At the BLEACH Festival on the Gold Coast, Shar performed in the site-specific works Looks Like A Tourist (2023) by Daniele Constance and Us And All Of This (2024) by Liesel Zink. She has also worked as a backup dancer with Sean Campbell & Co for the Queer Ball Byron Bay and Tropical Fruits Bush Majik Cabaret parties. Her choreography extends to children’s music video clips, and she serves as the dance educator at Xavier College High School in Lennox Head. 

She was one of 11 artists selected to participate in the PH(R)ASE//:1 - 'Pitch Lab' residency co-facilitated by Katina Olsen (Wakka Wakka/Kumbomerri) and Miranda Wheen (Dance Makers Collective). In addition, Shar has collaborated as a participating dancer with Sprung Dance Theatre and is a core member of MOVE IT Dance Fitness Fun, where she also coordinates tours and public performances for their community engagement initiative. Born and raised on Bundjalung Country in the Northern Rivers, Shar is committed to enriching the local arts scene. Her dedication to inclusive dance education and ability to connect with diverse communities make her a dynamic leader in the dance world, bringing stories to life through movement.

Image credits: Marianna Joslin by Mik La Vage / Shar Mitchell by Philip Channells