Four Steps with Co:3
Do you ever wonder how these amazing performance companies piece together their creations?
We wanted a window into their minds, so we asked Co:3 Artistic Director Raewyn Hill to shine a little light on how they orchestrate a contemporary dance piece.
You can see the stunningly powerful Co:3 dancers in our incredible show Leviathan.
Here's how she does it:
Step 1 – INSPIRATION
We facilitate and exchange stories that reflect experiences from and with our country, so we try to bring artists into the company who are interested in engaging in WA's diverse community.
Image: Ian Wilkes & Andrew Searle, The Line, cr. Daniel Carson
Step 2 – TEAM
The work is bigger than just the individuals idea so building the creative team is crucial to bringing the work to life; Architects, Researchers, Visual Artists, Set Designers, Photographers, Composers, Directors are all part of our team.
Step 3 – RESEARCH
Talking to our community, our people, gathering stories and images that we use as a basis for the development of movement.
Image: Ian Wilkes & Katherine Gurr, The Line, cr. Daniel Carson
Step 4 - SPACE
We are fortunate to be based at the State Theatre Centre of WA so have access to the incredible studio overlooking Horseshoe Bridge. This is where the magic begins, where the dancers begin to respond to tasks, building movement material that I methodically piece together and where the creative team thread their expertise into the work.
Main image: Katherine Gurr & Ian Wilkes, The Line, cr. Daniel Carson
Get to know Raewyn Hill & Co:3
Image: Raewyn Hill, cr. Stefan Gosatti.
Based in Perth, Western Australia, Co:3 Australia is the State’s premier contemporary dance company, resident dance company at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia. Driven by excellence and collaboration, Co:3 Australia is a contemporary organisation, generating contemporary conversations through dance.
At Co:3 Australia Raewyn has been instrumental in developing the strategy in creating a world class contemporary company that is unique within the Australian dance sector, with a unique operating model comprising three inter-dependent pillars; world-class and critically acclaimed contemporary dance works presented as resident dance company at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, a vibrant youth ensemble and elite training squad, and wide-reaching education engagement.
Aware of the need to connect beyond the dance sector, she has developed ongoing, high-level partnerships in the wider community, including the West Australian Institute of Sport, Edith Cowan University, and Hassell Architect Studios. As well, from 2016, she initiated a two-year partnership with Art Gallery Western Australia, was awarded a prestigious twelve-week artistic residency at Tokyo Wonder Site, Tokyo in 2016 and most recently awarded the prestigious Saison Foundation Artist in Residency.