IMMERSING AUDIENCES

WHAT makes a great performance space for dance?

Once upon a time, I would have answered this question in terms of sight lines, comfortable and appropriately spacious seating, stage size. I still think these things are important, if we’re talking theatres.

But in recent years some of the most engaging spaces in which I’ve seen dance haven’t been theatres. I’ve watched dance in someone’s lounge/dining room (Anything is Valid Dance Theatre’s ), in the parts of a, 2017), in a stairwell (Strut Dance’s Maxine Doyle showing at Perth Festival 2018), in a caravan (AIVDT’s ) – you get the idea. While the concept of site-specific dance isn’t new (the Judson group were doing it back in the 60s after all), it feels like it’s becoming increasingly popular with Australian artists and companies.