OMER BACKLEY-ASTRACHAN
FORM DANCE PROJECTS AND
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENT
DANCE BITES 2018
Young Israeli choreographer Omer Backley-Astrachan’s new works Wildebeest and Valley launch the 2018 Dance Bites season after Valley premiered at the 2017 Summer Dance Festival in Tel Aviv.
A world premiere, Wildebeest examines the artifice of social and gender behaviour through a distillation of human interactions. The piece has been choreographed to an original score by sound composer Kieran Warner-Hunt.
“Although my works always come from a very personal place, I feel that Wildebeest gives me room to explore my place within the social construct. I’m trying to peel off layers of social conventions to reveal some truths about feminism and western thinking,” said Backley-Astrachan.
First created as a solo in 2016 Valley has developed into an ensemble work featuring performers Omer and his Australian wife, Sharon Backley-Astrachan, Allie Graham and Matthew Mizyed. Valley is set on a frozen and desolate Arctic island where a small society of four co-exist. Solitude, vulnerability and sensuality are touchingly drawn through Omer’s choreography in this exquisite Sisyphean cycle.
“The embodiment of geographical collapse and rebirth through the human body is extraordinarily effective.”
(Ana Harmon, 2017)
“It seems to me that at some point in the process Valley started breathing and living and thinking on its own and is now withholding secrets from us that we so eagerly discover every time we perform.” (Omer Backley-Astrachan)
Based in New South Wales, Backley-Astrachan’s works have been invited to venues and festivals across Australia and overseas. Additionally, he has worked with choreographers including Dean Walsh, Kay Armstrong and Joshua Thomson, as well as international artists such as Nick Cave and Marina Abramovic.
CHOREOGRAPHER
OMER BACKLEY-ASTRACHAN
PERFORMERS: WILDEBEEST
CHIMENE STEELE-PRIOR, NAOMI HIBBERD, SHARON BACKLEY-ASTRACHAN, ALLIE GRAHAM, MASON PERONCHIK
PERFORMERS: VALLEY
SHARON BACKLEY-ASTRACHAN, ALLIE GRAHAM, MATHEW MIZYED AND OMER BACKLEY-ASTRACHAN
LIGHTING DESIGNER: VALLEY
KAREN NORRIS
MUSIC
WILDEBEEST
KIERAN WARNER-HUNT
VALLEY
TIMOTHY CONSTABLE
(Special thanks to:
Kay Armstrong and Melanie Berson)
Running Time: 90 Minutes including a 20 minute interval
RIVERSIDE THEATRES
PARRAMATTA
15 – 17 FEBRUARY, 2018 8PM
Dance Bites Tickets: Adult: $35*
Concession: $28*
Learn the Repertoire See The Show
Student: $28 & additional teachers (supervising teacher free) Student: $22 (matinee only)
LEARN THE REPERTOIRE SEE THE SHOW
FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY
10AM WORKSHOP Studio 404 Parramatta
12.30PM Matinee Performance (Lennox Theatre, Riverside)
Suitable for Years 9 – 12 and Tertiary students
Education Bookings: education_riverside@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
PH: 02 8839 3308
EXCLUSIVE FILM AND PERFORMANCE PACKAGE
Watch the film Mr Gaga, directed by Tomer Heymann, on Saturday 17 February at 4.45PM at Rafferty’s Theatre, Riverside and see any show of Wildebeest and Valley, 15 – 17 February, 2018.
Mr Gaga – Tomer Heymann
Using intimate rehearsal footage, extensive unseen archive materials and stunning dance sequences, Mr. Gaga tells the fascinating story of Israeli genius choreographer Ohad Naharin, artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company and creator of the unique Gaga movement language. Eight years in the making, this multi-awarded documentary captures the elusive beauty of contemporary dance and immerses the audience in the creative process behind Batsheva’s unique performances.
“I am Israeli and the influences of Gaga and the Israeli movement style are clearly shown in my work.” Omer Backley- Astrachan
Mr Gaga (film)
Saturday 17 February
Rafferties Theatre, Riverside
Time: 4.45PM
Running Time: 100 minutes
Package: Any Valley show (15 – 17 February) & Mr Gaga (film) screening on Saturday 17 February
Package Ticket: $40*
*Transaction fees apply
Valley, image: Heidrun Löhr
