Influencing Perth with Improvisation

by Cassie Hart for perthdance.com

There is an ever asked / never answered question amongst dance practitioners, researchers and appreciators: "What defines dance?" The two main opposing views being a) dance needs to incorporate the whole body; and b) that any minute movement by any part of the body can be considered dance.

Well here to support the latter argument and to put this debate to rest is Anything Is Valid Dance Theatre (AIVDT) who, as their name suggests, believe there are no constraints to 'what is dance'.

AIVDT was founded in 2006 by young dancers Serena Chalker and Quindell Orton. Studying at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at the time, the girls noticed that a lot of quality dance work currently being produced is going unnoticed by the general public. They believe this is happening due to lack of knowledge rather than lack of interest, so girls thought the key to amending this problem is exposure. They decided it was time to take dance out of theatres and into the streets of Perth!

"People who don't go to the arts much feel like they don't really belong in that scene, or they don't want to risk seeing a show they might not like. By taking dance onto the streets, we're trying to break down the social or attitudinal barriers associated with contemporary [dance]", Chalker reflects.

AIVDT started upon this task using inspiration from contemporary dancer Olivia Millard. Their teacher for Improvisation class at WAAPA at the time, she kept telling them "anything is valid" over and over again, until it eventually stuck! Under Millard's guidance, Chalker, Orton and fellow AIVDT dancers took to Forrest Chase for an impromptu improvisation performance.

"I guess we never really imagined that it would be so successful and have such a positive reaction from the crowds".

They have since revisited the CBD malls over half a dozen times, doing group improvisations and collaborated video works. Two of their works were selected to be performed at the 2008 gala performance of the Putting on an Act Festival.

"So far we've had a lot of amazing feedback from the crowds who stay and watch. The people who do stay are not exactly who would be considered your typical audience, which is fantastic and really the whole point."

The dancers are now busy completing their final year at WAAPA, but have big plans for the future. Following a two month mentorship in early '09 with improvisation dancer Jo Pollitt, AIVDT plan to perform a three week season of public shows, working with the community and local councils, producing workshops and "high quality, innovative performances of course!".

"With improvisation, any mood can be brought forth almost instantaneously. Our performances vary greatly. The element that remains throughout all of them I suppose is the sense of intrigue and quirkiness."

So the next time you're walking the malls of Perth City and you notice something somewhat bizarre going down, think AIVDT, because they promise, "you're going to see a lot more of the nutty dancers in the streets in the near future…"