Moon Moves Project - 2019
Moon Moves 2019 was an ACT Health funded project
Moon Moves; Movement, Music and the Moon, was a project focusing on the development of physical, mental and emotional health for seniors by providing creative movement opportunities. This intergenerational project brings together residents from three Goodwin Retirement Homes, Dance for Parkinson's, members of the GOLD over 55 dance company and young artists (The A Team) in the development of a series of performances and a short film.
Over 6 months the Australian Talented Youth Project (ATY) facilitated a program of regular dance classes, culminating in a series of interactive performances aligning with Dance Week and National Science Week as part of a wider community arts event, building health, well being and self esteem.
Taking inspiration from the 1969 Moon Landing, Moon Moves wove together music and dances of the era, people's memories of the event and archival recordings to celebrate lives well lived. Neil Armstrong's words - 'one small step' and evolve into 'one giant leap' with movement from across Canberra and many nations. We will focus on developing health by looking back to the dances of the time including the "Swim", "Mashed Potato", "Twist", "Frug" and "Chicken". Movement will be age and ability appropriate and delivered by an experienced team led by Liz Lea, an award-winning choreographer and director. The A Team of young artists will work with the elders with their contemporary interpretation of the memories, movement and music.
Teaching Team
Liz Lea
Liz has worked internationally for 30 years, performing, teaching and creating. She has been commissioned in India, UK. Africa, Europe, Singapore and Australia.
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Liz was awarded a 2017 Australian Dance Award for her direction of Great Sport! at the National Museum of Australia. She was also named the 2017 was the ACT Artist of the Year and was the 2018 ACT Dance Artist of the Year.
Liz directed Canberra Dance Theatre for 6 years and directs two Festivals - DANscienCE where dance and science meet and BOLD, which celebrates the legacy of dance across all identities. BOLD III is due to run in March 2021. Liz has extensive experience working with people with intellectual disabilities and sits on the National Portrait Gallery’s Access Advisory Group. Liz has presented two TEDx performance talks (2014 and 2018).
In 2019 she toured her one woman show RED, directed One Giant Leap, a cross community project celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Moon landing and worked in Singapore as part of an Asialink Residency with Maya Dance Theatre and DADC, a company of dancers who live with Down Syndrome.
Liz worked for Ausdance ACT for 4 years, becoming the Creative Director in 2019. In 2020 she has toured RED to the UK and is Movement Director for a new production at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre. Liz is a member of the ACT Minister’s Creative Council and is represented by Karen Gallagher and Associates.
ISEMS PROJECTS DEBORA DI CENTA
Debora Di Centa is a Canberra based independent dance artist and choreographer. Debora grew up in Italy and started dancing at a young age. She has extensive training in ballet, jazz, contemporary dance and she is an expert in Laban Movement Analysis . Debora studied and collaborated in dance works, research, and performances with various artists and dance specialists around Europe, US and Asia.
Debora is currently pursuing her professional development around Australia, New Zealand and internationally.
She teaches, performs, choreographs, and directs dance events working for professionals and in community settings. Since 2016 Debora is leading the Canberra Contact Improvisation community and is team member of the Dance For Well Being program at Belconnen Arts Centre. She trains pre-professional Contemporary dancers at Dance Development Center Canberra and collaborates with Independent Artist Liz Lea, Canberra Dance Theatre, Praksis Canberra and Ausdance ACT. As independent she works through her label ISEMS PROJECTS.
Her motto is: “Dance for All!”
Emma Laverty
I started dancing in 1989 in Campbelltown, NSW. In 2003 I began teaching dance classes in studios and in the community and have not looked back. As a proud Darug woman I am keenly interested in contemporary Aboriginal dance, language, and history. It is my mission to ensure my culture continues to be embraced and is never again hidden.
Gretel Burgess
Gretel Burgess completed two years of a counselling degree before transferring to a Masters in Social Work (completed 2015). Gretel already has a BA in Communication – Theatre Media, and a Certificate in Cultural Theatre and Dance from the Indonesian Art Institute of Pandang Panjang, West Sumatra. She has combined her background in the Arts and Health sectors to work with many different groups including, asylum seekers on Christmas Island, the Multicultural Council for Refugees, Darwin, and adults, children and young people with special needs in Canberra. Gretel has facilitated, over the past four years, a STEPS program for adults with stroke and acute brain injury through Queensland Health, and facilitated dance and drama programs for both ARC disability services and in the aged care sector in Cairns, Queensland. Gretel is currently working in many roles here in Canberra facilitating an arts-based program for the Messengers Program for disengaged teenagers at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre teaching dance for the Belconnen Arts Centre, including the Dance for Wellbeing program for all mobility levels, Dementia and Parkinson’s. Gretel is also on the board of Canberra Dance Theatre(CDT) and works as a guest teacher for the CDT GOLD over 55 year old dance class, and a teacher for the CDTeens, children and teenagers with additional needs. Gretel works in three schools as a social work counsellor with families and children for CatholicCare in both the north and south region of Canberra.
Karin Rønning-Meagher
Karin Rønning-Meagher is a diversely skilled visual and performing artist who loves physical theatre improvisation. Since 2013, Karin has been a performer & participant at the annual Canberra 'Precipice Festival', held at Gorman Arts Centre each September. She studies Action Theatre with Danielle Cresp in Melbourne. Karin is a member of the Ausdance ACT team as Assistant Stage Manager for the Youth Dance Festival. Most recently, she was production assistant for Australian Dance Party's 'Move to Zero' film series. In 2018, she performed and toured in Liz Lea's solo work, Red. In addition, Karin is a certified Montessori Model United Nations teacher coordinator and recently led a group of students through a 6 month preparation to attend the annual MMUN conference in NYC in March 2019.
Susan Innis
Originally classically trained by in WA, Susan soon discovered she wasn’t cut out to be a ballerina, she was however passionate about teaching and making dance accessible to all. Fast forward a teaching degree, and raising 3 sons, Susan is now a Fitness and Dance Teacher who works with all ages, from 4 years old to 84 years young.