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In 2008 a dance project called Recovery was started by Melbourne-based artists Natalie Cursio and Shannon Bott as a very direct response to the deaths of people in their families. The process became a bit difficult with Nat and Shannon both choreographing and performing and so they asked me to direct the project. It’s a strange thing doing this — I wanted to take some ownership (in order to make decisions) but I also wanted to respect the work they had done.
We got used to the arrangement, but the project kept suffering funding setbacks, and in part we were very close to giving up on it. In 2013 we even held a wake for the project so say goodbye. Some of team joked that Recovery wasn’t a project, but a way of life.
But, Recovery is at last having its première this December. If you’re in Melbourne, go and see Shannon and Natalie perform. They are special people, thinkers and dancers.
Here’s Nat talking about Recovery, the time it has taken, and just wanting to finish things:
And in this video I talk about being asked to direct the project after it had begun:
And below is the official flyer.
