Illuminate is a performance initiative of Move Through Life that shines a light on new dance works by MTL choreographers.

Intended as bi-annual event, Illuminate is the first time these contemporary dance works are presented on a stage, under full stage lights. Through the Illuminate initiative, MTL plans to nurture and grow creativity and boldness amongst its choreographers, giving them a chance to roadtest their work, and maybe see it unfurl in a new incarnation.

Following on from Iluminate 2011, two dance works by MTL choreographers will be presented in the 2012 Adelaide Fringe Festival. Two Points of Reality by Dan Turbill was presented during Iluminate 2011, and he is going to further develop the work for March 2012 at Holden Street Theatre. Ripple by Kirsty Duncan is a new work that will be presented in partnership with The Science Exchange.

Join our mailing list to receive updates about our next Iluminate season and the two Fringe Festival works Ripple and Two Points of Reality.

Illuminate 2011 program

Six short works by six MTL choreographers will be presented

Wink Wink
Choreographer: Chelsea Nickels
Presented with support of Leconfield Wines

Physiological impulses from our senses send us signals about the world around us. But do you really know what I am perceiving, what I'm experiencing right now? Our uniquely individual experiences influence how we perceive this information and then we use it to engage in our worlds.

This project is an exploration on not only the physical benefits but the restrictions of our senses, the social contexts and our understanding of each other, one sense at a time. My current experiments are with sight.

Can you teach someone movement if they can't see it? If you can't see it?
Are you cracking on to me? It's rude to stare, you know.

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The Letter
Choreographer: Louise Durrans
Presented with the support of Jacqui Crowley

The Letter was inspired the song Travellin' Soldier by the Dixie Chicks and letters written during the war.

A young couple continue to write to each other once the soldier leaves for duty. It is told primarily through the eyes of the young girl, and is the story of many women, who are left behind in war.

The Letter is a beautiful, poignant exploration of love, loss and heartache that separation brings, especially during war.

Navigating the Fairytale
Choreographer: Jo McDonald
Presented with the support of Jeremy Gill

We all grow up on the fairytale - find love and you'll live happily ever after. But most of us also know it's not this easy. What happens when the fairytale turns into a rocky journey? How do we know whether the journey is finished, or whether we just need to try harder? Navigating the Fairytale explores the myriad faces of love and asks the questions, "how do we find our way through life?" and "how do we find, and sustain, happiness?".

The Waiting Game
Choreographer: Melissa Hill
Presented with the support of Harris Property Management

Are we there yet? When is it my turn? I've been here for hours!

The waiting game is a long, frustrating and annoying game to play. Top it off by surrounding yourself with an unsupervised child, an overly friendly and loud business man, a germaphobe and an annoying slow grandpa and you have a very exasperating and infuriating waiting game to play in your local doctor's surgery.

We have all been in that situation before but trust me; it is much more enjoyable when you are watching others go through the experience. Enjoy the interactions and frustrations of six over-exaggerated exhausted characters as they play the ever feared waiting game.

Over the Edge and Back
Choreographer: Cherie Broad

We all experience some level of anxiety in our lives. For some it can become an all consuming physiological experience. Through the physical medium of dance, anxiety is explored and expressed.

What triggers you? No time, too much to do, responsibility, finances, employment, your love life? The chaos of one, two or all aspects of your life can start/trigger the spiral into anxiety. Can you cope, are you resilient enough, or will it all tip you over the edge? Will you make it back?

Two Points of Reality
Choreographer: Dan Turbill

Dementia is a disease that affects many individuals and their families. Although most people have heard of dementia, their understanding of the disease and how to effectively interact with individuals suffering from the disease is often limited. Two Points of Reality depicts today's reality while also presenting the reality experienced by the individual with dementia. The aim is to give audiences the chance to have a fly on the wall perspective of the world in which an individual with dementia lives. In doing this 'Two Points of Reality' hopes to provide its audiences with an understanding of why individuals with dementia act the way they do.

Illuminate has been made possible by funding from Arts SA and the City of Marion in support of our Expand choreographic program