Transit Dance announces Digital Theatre experience
With the current pandemic placing a heavy cloud over the future of live performances in Australia, one dance school is taking it all within their stride.
Transit Dance, led by Australian dance entrepreneurs Paul Malek and Chris Curran, has announced today that they will be delivering their next theatrical season via live stream. This bold move comes as no surprise from the prolific producing duo who already have a long list of digital performances to their name.
Channel 10 News coverage of Origins Dance Company’s digital season
“This is actually a really exciting opportunity. Performance is such an integral part of our training here at Transit Dance. As part of their training our 130 strong student community take place in four large scale performance seasons each year. This term will be no different.” noted Artistic Director Paul Malek.
“This isn’t going to be just some ZOOM meeting setup.” adds Creative Director Chris Curran.
“This socially distanced performance is a full production. It will be filmed by up to 10 cameras inside our state of the art facilities and then broadcast to our audience for one night only. I’m actually very excited about the possibilities of this season.”
Taking place over three consecutive nights in July, Transit Dance will take to the digital stage with three professionally shot dance productions by the main arms of the Transit Dance; Origins Dance Company, Pre Professional Performing Arts & Pre Professional Contemporary Dance.
Starting on Friday 10th July, Origins Dance Company led by artistic Director Jayden Hicks will present Our Own Island. A performance that has been devised and rehearsed in complete isolation over the past two months. Featuring a cast of sixty dancers aged 12 to 24 from across Victoria and choreography by Paul Malek, Damian Meredith, Jayden Hicks and the cast, this stunning youth work is a perfect start to the season.
Saturday 11th July will see the return of the much loved online dance variety show, Dance Chat Live. Reuniting original hosts Paul Malek and Yvette Lee, this one hour high octane dance program featuring the pre professional performing arts students will countdown our favourite Aussie hits in a Solid Gold/SoulTrain inspired variety format.
Take a behind the scenes look at the phenomenon that was Dance Chat.
Sunday 12th July, the Pre Professional Contemporary students will take their turn on the stage to present the visceral theatre experience Machine. Exploring the finest, most refined technology on earth - The human body. This architecturally designed night of dance theatre will include works by Bradley Chatfield (Sydney Dance Company), Lachlan Hall (Transit Dance Company) and Paul Malek (SYTYCD).
So how can you watch? Well audiences can breathe a sigh of relief, as what are normally sold out seasons will now be available to a much larger audience. A pay what you decide ticket model has also been adopted. Tickets are being provided completely free of charge, with audiences having the option to donate, should they wish, at the conclusion of the events.
Tickets are now available for these one night only events via wwwtransitdance.net/events