KATE MAGUIRE-ROSIER Since 2011, the Catalyst Dance program
artist Marc Brew (Artistic Director of Marc
has reinforced a recognised industry need
Brew Company) and Sydney-based artist
to ‘provide high quality skills development
Sarah-Vyne Vassallo (Artistic Director
and training for dance practitioners, with
of Murmuration). Vassallo has been
and without disability working across the
instrumental in identifying the need for
arts sector’.1 In August 2016, the final stage
a professional development program
of the national Catalyst Dance Residency
like Catalyst, having national reach, but
took the form of a Choreographic Research
situated in NSW and tailored to suit the
Lab. The creative team comprised
shifting needs in the sector.
fourteen artists in residence, four assistant artists and two lead choreographers.
The focus of the lab was to provide
Specifically, participants included Joshua
training in choreographic research and
Campton, Tara Coughlan, Chris Dyke,
development methods for the emerging
Elle Evangelista, Jianna Gourgiou, Zakaria
and early career artists. Dancers with
Ghomri, Kayah Guenther, Lorcan Hopper,
disability radically extend the notion of
Matthew Massaria, Max McAuley, Annabel
dance and more importantly, they do
Saies, Charlie Smith, Allycia Staples and
this on their terms. On the first day, Brew
Karen Veldhuizen, facilitated by David
and Vassallo asked the participants:
Baker, Margot Politis, Matt Shilcock and
‘What does choreography mean to you?’
Melinda Tyquin, and led by international
Responses ranged from the pulse of
43