Community Engagement
“Working with community and elder dancers is a speciality of mine. I directed Canberra Dance Theatre for 7 years and established the GOLD over 55’s dance company. I was awarded a 2017 Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance for my work with them” Liz Lea (2018)
Performance Day: Arrive at the venue during the morning. The afternoon is spent in rehearsals, costume consultation, lighting ensuring all participants feel comfortable and confident in their debut performance.
REVIEW EXCERPTS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN RED:
There is a trio for Lea and two men, and RED also includes a “codeine nightmare” where Lea is joined by a chorus line of older dancers dressed in black who danced with and for her and helped her depict the experience of coping with and managing horrendous pain.
- Dance Informa June 2018
Briefly, a glorious "chorus line" of 12 grey-haired women teams up with her for a rather wobbly but engaging appearance.
- Sydney Morning Herald June 2018
Her character is incredibly vivacious, highly spirited and nurturing, prompting all of us to trust in ourselves and in our intuition… ea has produced a beautiful show, emanating so much joy and life, which infectiously spills into the audience. — Funny, moving, brave and inspirational.
- Sydney Arts Guide June 2018
Lea herself choreographed a quasi-nightmare sequence in which twelve mature dancers in sparkling black dresses carrying red fans circled around her as she succumbed to the effects of prescription drugs.
- Australian Arts Review March 2018
How remarkable that such a painful affliction as Endometriosis could inspire such a beautiful work as Red ... a remarkably coherent, powerful and moving dance-theatre work.
- Arts Review March 2018
She was joined by a group of older dancers on stage in a farcical portrayal of attempting dignity and rehabilitation while strengthening the pelvic floor.
- Canberra City News March 2018
