IDEAS IN MOTION

Independent artists take creative risks in Fresh Tracks. 

WORDS BROOKE GIBBS 
IMAGE DUANE PRESTON

FOR 10 YEARS, Fresh Tracks has been giving independent artists the space to experiment, take risks, and share works in progress with audiences. As part of the Development Program at Tracks Dance Company, the annual showcase invites audiences behind the curtain to witness creativity in motion.

Rather than presenting polished final productions, Fresh Tracks, performed during Darwin Fringe Festival, celebrates the exciting, messy, and often unpredictable process of making new work. It’s a chance to see ideas tested, stories take shape, and artists explore where movement can lead.

This year’s program features a diverse collection of works from emerging and established artists. Audiences can experience Horror Noir #1 by James Mangohig, Generating Divergence #4 by the Senior Dancers with Kelly Beneforti and David McMicken, Facial Mapping by Marita Smith and cohort, and a new work from Rachael Wallis that extends and celebrates First Nations dance practices.

For artist James Mangohig, storytelling sits at the heart of this work. Drawing inspiration from his Filipino heritage, Horror Noir #1 explores darker themes through movement, sound and atmosphere.

“I drew inspiration from working with different cultures. We are always telling beautiful, happy stories, but in some cultures, ancient folk tales are passed down through horror-esque themes, and fear is used to teach unsettling lessons,” Mangohig says.

Rather than shying away from discomfort, the work embraces it, inviting audiences to consider the role of fear, folklore, and cultural memory play in shaping our understanding of the world. It’s the kind of creative risk Fresh Tracks was designed to support.

Through this collaboration with Feel The Beat’s Iselle Grosskopf, Mangohig wants to experiment how the narrative plays out through movement, and what feels creepy and unhinged to the audience, while steering away from turning it into a literal story.

“I was really intrigued to explore this deeper. I do write darker sounding music with aggressive and intense feelings, but I don’t often put it out there when working with other musicians,” says Mangohig.

“I wanted to create an emotionally instrumental piece that pushes boundaries in the way it jumps out of speakers and reaches into different dimensions. It’s delivered to feel out of tune, like something that doesn’t feel right in your body.”

The program itself has become an important fixture in Darwin’s art landscape, nurturing artists at various stages of their careers and encouraging creative development within the local dance community. Participants are selected through residencies, Choreolabs, and Tracks’ wider network of performers and collaborators, creating opportunities for artists to test ideas in front of a live audience.

What makes Fresh Tracks particularly engaging is the invitation to become part of the creative conversation. Following the performance, audiences are encouraged to stay for an artists’ talk, where creators share insights into their process, inspirations, and the challenges of bringing new ideas to life.

It’s a rare opportunity to ask questions, gain a deeper understanding of contemporary dance, and discover what happens before a work reaches its final form.

Whether you’re a dedicated dance lover or simply curious about the creative process, Fresh Tracks offers a unique glimpse into the future of Territory dance. Expect bold ideas, unexpected moments, and a celebration of artistic curiosity.

After all, every great work starts somewhere.

Fresh Tracks 
WHEN SUN 19 JUL | 3-4PM 
AT TRACKS DANCE STUDIO 
COST $15-$25 
INFO tracksdance.com.au