Berlin based artists Renae Shadler (originally from Western Australia) and Austrian dancer and choreographer Mirjam Sögner will run a public masterclass exploring how text and movement can collide to create new meanings.

In their ongoing collaboration, Renae and Mirjam are particularly interested in how spoken word and the moving body are capable of bringing fiction into being. The masterclass will explore how these two disciplines can complement and contradict each other to reveal the multiple power structures we are daily immersed in.

Together the group will move, write, speak and perform in relation to our surrounding environment and one-another. The class will begin with a voice and movement practice, followed by a lead investigation expanding and testing our perceptual capabilities through structured movement and text improvisations. 

Participants will also have a chance to see both of their solo shows at Dancehouse in May. Presented in an international double-bill, Renae Shadler performs a new version of her award-winning work RESTORE; a time-accelerated journey into past, present and future alongside the Australian premiere of LARA, a solo created and performed by Mirjam Sögner, which has been touring extensively in Europe.

No prior dance experience is necessary to participate. This workshop is fun and easy to engage with so come and join the artists in their creative process.

Max 15 participants.

Mirjam Sögner is an Austrian choreographer and performer based in Berlin. Her work is deeply rooted in movement research and driven by the urge to create with and through bodily knowledge.She has been studying dance, choreography and artistic research both in Vienna and at Artez Arnhem / NL. Her solo-work LARA tours extensively throughout Europe since its selection for Aerowaves 2016 (Dansens Hus Oslo, Brut Vienna, Frascati Amsterdam, Rote Fabrik Zürich …). Mirjam has been awarded with a DanceWEB Scholarship, the STARTStipendium and a Research-Scholarship by the Austrian Cultural Council, the Tanzstipendium by the Berlin Senat and with a research-residency in Montreal by the Goethe Institute. As a choreographer she created work for Tanztage Berlin, Dschungel Wien and Kibbutzim College Tel Aviv a.o.Recently she has been working with Siegmar Zacharias and just premiered her new evening filling solo-work RAYS at brut Vienna. More information at www.mirjamsoegner.com 

Renae Shadler is an Australian actress, dancer and choreographer based between Melbourne and Berlin. Her work traverses dance, experimental performance, and embedded community projects. Since training at the VCA in acting and Adelaide Centre for the Arts in dance, Renae has continued to explore physicality as a key source of expression, intertwined with spoken word and the larger dramatic gesture. In 2012, she founded Renae Shadler & Collaborators, a project-based collective in Melbourne who create performance experiences that engage creatively with site and are created in collaboration with touring artists and local participants. Past projects have been presented in train stations, public spaces and theatres in Europe, Regional Australia and urban centres. Since 2013 Renae has been expanding her practice in Europe through a DanceWEB 2014 scholarship, performing with Dewey Dell and Alexandra Pirici and as an acting coach for Kaori Ito produced by Les Ballets C de la B. Her recent guest performances and residencies include Hellerau - European Centre for the Arts Dresden, Tanzfabrik and Dansomètre, among others. More information at www.renaeshadler.com

DATE: Saturday, April 21 2018
TIME: 1pm-5pm
COST: $38 Full, $28 Concession/Dancehouse member

To sign up, please visit the Dancehouse website or ring the box office on 03 9347 2860

More Information:

Masterclass Facebook event

RESTORE by Renae Shadler // LARA by Mirjam Sögner