RE-FUNCTION by FERAS SHAHEEN Premiere | Bodytorque.Digital | The Australian Ballet

Watch the Bodytorque.Digital premiere of Re-Function, choreographed and directed by Feras Shaheen featuring Artists of The Australian Ballet with original music by DOBBY. Subscribe for more original dance content: bit.ly/3DePqf2
Feras Shaheen is a street dance performer and choreographer who was first introduced to The Australian Ballet through the Telstra Emerging Choreographer (TEC), an award dedicated to nurturing choreographic talent and artistic creativity in Australia. After winning the inaugural award in 2021 with his short dance film LODA, Artistic Director David Hallberg approached Feras about creating a new work for Bodytorque.Digital. This unique collaboration sees five of our dancers take on Feras’ unique choreographic voice in a vibrant, exciting street dance film.
A note from Feras Shaheen:
Objects that occupy our homes are reminders of comfort. They are essentially invisible when they are performing their function correctly. Users only seem to notice them when they rebel or cease to perform their designated function. Within ‘Re-Function’, dance is the object.
This was my first time working with professional ballet dancers. Part of my excitement was in the potential of a rare collaboration. In the lead up to our collaboration, I didn’t have the ‘how’ component figured out, however once we started, it flowed with clarity.
I am a big believer in not having a single approach to creating choreography - I prefer the context and the people I am working with to inform my method. It was clear before stepping into rehearsals, that it wasn’t about making them move like I do. The intention behind the first week of rehearsals was to facilitate an exchange and negotiation of stories, style, culture, personality and where these all intersect. I was lucky enough to have a very collaborative and open minded group of dancers, willing to be pushed away from their comfort but also be ready to flourish within their comfort. They even joined me at a dance battle event…
I was not interested in reproducing an idea that already exists. I was interested in ideas we don’t yet know the outcome of. Starting from a place of familiarity, but launching into the unknown, using initial discomfort to fuel the process. Playfulness was the common tool throughout the whole experience. By treating a purpose as a suggestion, rather than an instruction, we created a piece that demonstrates what we discovered through re-functioning. The result - a screen dance work that is choreographed in collaboration with the users and the chair (acting as the sixth user), to display the flexibility and adaptation of the space, the music, and the lens.
The idea is not to rebel. The idea is to see it from a different perspective so we can push and extend its functions. Functions with an ’s’. As many of them as we can get…
About Bodytorque.Digital:
Bodytorque was originally conceived to uncover the creativity of The Australian Ballet’s dancers and develop their choreographic talents. This development program has been a breeding ground for our company's brightest talents including Australian legend Graeme Murphy and resident choreographers Stephen Baynes, Tim Harbour and Alice Topp.
Four new works have been commissioned, designed specifically for the digital space. Bodytorque.Digital combines all elements - choreography, dancers, music, and cinematography - together through digital screens. Each work will be premiered on The Australian Ballet’s RUclips channel, with the ability to interact with audiences live.
The Bodytorque.Digital program is supported by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Bodytorque.Digital has been enabled by the generosity of The Geraldine Lawton Bequest.
Full credits:
Choreography/Direction Feras Shaheen
Original Music by DOBBY
Creative Consultant Nick Power
Performed by Jasmin Durham Lilla Harvey Benjamin Garrett, Samara Merrick, Maxim Zenin
Director of Photography Brett Ludeman
Camera Operator David McRobbie Park
On-set Assistant Tegan Crowley
Costume Coordinator Amelia Peace
Wardrobe onset Wendy Findlaterss
Stills Photography Edita Knowler
Shoot Supervisor Julia Valentini
Editor Brett Ludeman
Behind the Scenes Editor David Ward
GFX Stephen Wood
Producer Robyn Fincham
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#ContemporaryDance #Choreography #Ballet

[@kymmulvey]

So captivating

[@aidanoleary3370]

This is SO COOL! David Hallberg is doing so much good for the dance world by elevating these artists and investing in more contemporary work for the company. Bravo!

[@vionalowenthal1231]

WOW!!! This was so surprisingly good. Why am I surprised?I guess the unique collaboration between a street dancer and Aust Ballet dancers is quite new. I loved the energy, quirky moves and fluidity of the movement. well done Feras and well done Aust Ballet dancers showing such versatility!!!

[@LupeJelena]

that was AWESOME

[@TonkinJMC]

This was a great modern performance. Nice to see younger dancers too. Great job.

[@melanierankine6932]

Fabulous moves.

[@annobrien4627]

👏👏👏👏👏Bravo

[@DOBBYau]

🔥🔥🔥