Tracktivation

Dancers are being unleashed in Darwin’s CBD by Tracks Dance Studio, breathing life into the city. A huge range of public programs and workshops will be held throughout the NT capital, led by a team of five dancers showcasing their skills and sharing their knowledge.

Tracks Dance Animateur Kelly Beneforti will be joined by local dancers Bryn Wackett, Jenelle Saunders, Madeleine Brown and Jordan Bretherton to transform the city streets with dance and take up residence at the Darwin Live Arts Hub in Smith Street Mall.

“There’s going to be so much happening – there’s no excuses to not get involved,” says Beneforti.

“Each of the four dancers and myself will make new choreographic work that will be created and performed within the CBD,” she says.

“They’re all very beautiful dancers in different ways – the diversity across the four of them is astounding in terms of different dance styles and interests within dance.”

One of the main roles of each of the dancers will be to engage the community and welcome them to the world of dance.

The 10-week program includes lunchtime drop-in classes, large-scale community dance events, original choreographic works in alternative locations and cheeky dance interventions. 

“For Tracktivation, there’s going to be so many thing happening and there will be less barriers for people, so it’s easy for them to come and join in,” Beneforti says.

“The idea of our lunchtime workshop is for people who work in the CBD – if you don’t have time before or after work, you can drop in for half an hour and be involved.”

Those who feel like moving and shaking can head down to Raintree Park to join Singing in the Rain, where you can create and perform a piece and make some new friends along the way.

Tracks has been a driving force for community dance throughout the Northern Territory since its humble beginnings in the early 1990s.

The team is dedicated to representing the NT’s diverse multiculturalism and unique landscape, with the popular Grey Panthers program and work with senior ceremonial dancers in Lajamanu proving there are no barriers to dancing. 

Tracks Co-Artistic Director David McMicken says the organisation is passionate about getting people moving within the community.

"Tracktivation revisions the CBD through dance," he says.

“As dance makers we believe people need to keep in touch and activate their bodies," he adds.

“We as human beings exist inside of our bodies – that sounds a bit odd, but we spend more and more time in our headspace and in enclosed environments – and that takes you away from the world we live in.

“We also live as community members and not as individuals, so we love creative activities that bring as many people together as possible."

Tracktivation UNTIL SUN 29 APR | tracksdance.com.au | @tracksdance

Participate
Singing in the Rain | SAT 10 MAR | 2-5.30PM | RAINTREE PARK 
Dance Demonstration | SAT 17 MAR | 2-5.30PM | SPEAKERS LAWN 
Make A Dance In A Week | FRI 20 APR | 5-5.30PM | FROG HOLLOW PARK

On the Dance Floor
Lunchtime drop-in dance classes  EVERY TUE & WED | 12-12.30PM | LIVE DARWIN HUB