JOIN OUR FREE MOVEMENT CLASSES
DAILY: Monday 6th May - Friday 10th May
TIME: 10am - 10.45am
PLACE: Geelong Arts Centre
Please join me for a nourishing, light hearted movement class! The class is suitable for ALL AGES & EXPERIENCE LEVELS, INCLUDING BEGINNERS (18YRS - 80 YRS+)
This feel good class combines stretch, movement and a touch of dance, designed to relax & uplift!
Each class is free but places are limited. Register Now.
All classes facilitated by Helen Duncan - for Helen’s experience and qualifications see bio below
Our series of free classes are brought to you as part of Cabaret of Calm, a new work in development by local Geelong artist Helen Duncan.
Cabaret of Calm
Cabaret of Calm is a creative and playful interactive experience that explores our implicit knowledge of basic movement and self care practices. A project in development, Cabaret of Calm aims to investigate if and how this self knowledge buckles under the pressure and persuasion of the increasingly powerful wellness economy.
The project weaves performance and storytelling into a movement / stretch class environment. There are moments of chaos and there are moments of calm. We will ask ourselves, if our basic movement and self care practices are hijacked by industry and human vulnerability, at what point do our rituals offer more harm than they do calm?
In addition to our free daily classes, we will invite our participants to dive further into our imaginary performance world through our free creative play classes. This is an interactive experience that grows with a sense of fun and humour. The class will nurture you as an audience participant. You are alway welcome to interact as you wish and nothing is designed to push you intentionally outside your comfort zone. Just something unique and fun to experience following on from your free movement class.
CREATIVE PLAY CLASSES
DAILY: Monday 6th May - Friday 10th May
TIME: 11am - 11.30am
PLACE: Geelong Arts Centre
ALL AGES & EXPERIENCE LEVELS WELCOME, INCLUDING BEGINNERS (18YRS - 80 YRS+)
PERFORMERS WANTED
(volunteer opportunity)
As we build our Cabaret of Calm, we invite local performers to dive into the studio with us for some creative play! If you’re an actor, dancer, mover or happy go luck human you are welcome - Professionals, amateurs and all those with talents in between, please come along! We’ll have a blast as we devise this new interactive theatre work together. You’re welcome to offer what ever time you can and a full commitment is not essential. A great opportunity to come and interact, meet and get creative with your dance and theatre friends.
Open to all ages and experience levels (18yrs - 80yrs+)
PERFORMERS SESSIONS
DATES: Monday 6th May - Friday 10th May
TIME: 10am-1pm
LOCATION: Geelong Arts Centre
**Please note a full commitment is not required. You are welcome to come and go as you wish.
FINAL SHOWING FOR THOSE WHO’D LIKE TO BE INVOLVED
FRIDAY 10TH MAY, approx. 4PM (Time TBC)
Helen has a long history working within professional dance & theatre, holding a strong interest in community collaboration and practice. She is a graduate of dance from the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (2007) & elements of her elite dance training continue to influence Helen’s other areas of professional work including theatre, wearable art, film, project management and community arts initiatives.
She has worked on projects with an exceptional range of artists including awarding winning playwright Suzie Miller, Danielle Micich (Artistic Director, Force Majeure), Emily Tomlins (Co-founder of Elbow Room), Actor Eryn Jean Norvill (Sydney Theatre Company) , Fleur Darkin Ensemble (United Kingdom) and Independent dancers Joel Fenton (Shaun Parker Dance Company), Natalie Allen (Sydney Dance Company) and Tyrone Robinson (OFF-Base Dance) to name a few.
Helen has produced and directed five main stage productions for the Wearable Art Mandurah Showcase events (2014-2017 & 2022). Reviewed by Perth Arts Live in 2022 as ‘the jewel in the crown of Mandurah’s annual arts calendar‘, Helen was commended for presenting wearable art works through storytelling by reaching beyond traditional catwalk style presentations through her ‘complex orchestration of production elements’.
She has collaborated as a movement consultant for Red Stitch Theatre (Detroit) and Elbow Room Productions (We Get It, Niche), with Elbow Rooms production “Niche” awarded top 10 productions of 2017 by Time Out Magazine. Helen has presented self-devised and collaborative works at Edinburgh Fringe, Perth Fringe, Melbourne Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals.
In support of her arts practice, Helen has previously received grants and commissions from Creative Australia (formerly Australia Council), KAGE coach program, Jardin D’Europe Scholarship, Geelong Arts Centre, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, and City of Greater Geelong.
Helen is also a highly skilled producer with seventeen years experience. She has worked as a producer and project manager for projects with Geelong Arts Centre, City of Greater Geelong, City of Mandurah , Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Riptide Youth Performance Company, Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Verve Dance Company (United Kingdom).
QUALIFICATIONS
- BA Arts Honours (Dance)
ABOUT HELEN DUNCAN
This project is assisted by Geelong Arts Centre’s Creative Engine.
Cabaret of Calm image credit:
Elise Oliver @thislittlevibe