Circus and Dance at the Darwin Festival

CIRCUS

Experience a very different circus show when Cambodia’s premier troupe Phare Circus present their award-winning Eclipse. Based on traditional Cambodian folktales, Eclipse combines a dramatic mix of theatre, classical Cambodian Apsara dance and thrilling acrobatics all set to a live original music score. Eclipse takes place at the Darwin Entertainment Centre, Friday 9 - Sunday 11 August.

NEON is an unapologetic, hilarious and downright dirty dancing cabaret, where circus meets comedy and song. Join Australia’s iconic Circus Oz under neon lights as they celebrate everything trashy, glitzy and fabulously tragic about the 1980s. It’s a jam-packed hour of non-stop energy that dazzles with stunning acrobatic acts, breathtaking feats of circus, plus a smattering of Flashdance choreography in some rather uncomfortable gym wear. Enjoy a naughty night out at The Lighthouse, Friday 23 - Sunday 25 August

Puzzle invites audiences to join in a playful game in unexpected locations around Darwin. Five talented circus performers tumble, balance, handstand and form human pyramids to stack four hollow cubes in all sorts of permutations and combinations. Performed by Formosa Circus Art, Puzzle brings together Eastern traditional acrobatics, juggling, dance, drama and street theatre for a unique contemporary circus experience that’s fun for everyone. Puzzle takes place at various locations from Friday 16 – Sunday 18 August.

DANCE

A choreographer, dancer and writer from the Narangga and Kaurna nations of South Australia, Jacob Boehme was diagnosed with HIV in 1998. In search of answers, he reached out to his ancestors. Through a powerful blend of storytelling, projection and movement, he pays homage to their ceremonies whilst dissecting the politics of gay, Blak and poz identities in Blood on a Dance Floor. This moving work is an unapologetic, passionate and visceral narrative exploring the legacies and memories of bloodlines, the need for community and what blood means to each of us. See Blood on the Dance Floor at Brown's Mart Theatre, Tuesday 13 - Thursday 15 August.

Bangarra Dance Theatre is celebrating its 30th anniversary with Bangarra: 30 years of sixty five thousand, a diverse program of three contemporary works each displaying Bangarra’s trademark passionate storytelling, rich artistry and deep community connections. Catch these masters of movement at the Darwin Entertainment Centre, Saturday 17 August.

The Perception Experiment aims to challenge the way audiences experience a live dance performance. Alice Springs-based choreographers Frankie Snowdon and Madeleine Krenek explore time and space as they combine elements of dance, sound and salt in a sensorial and immersive performance inspired by and created in the Australian desert. Don’t miss this show at Brown’s Mart Theatre, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 August.

A highlight of the dance program each year, local company Tracks Dance returns with a new show that transforms the heart of Darwin into an outdoor stage. Whimsical yet thought-provoking, Global Positioning explores the Darwin city across time. Musical Director James Mangohig collaborates with local musicians to produce a richly textured sound score, while six Darwin choreographers lead a large community cast, creating movement and taking audiences on a journey that reimagines the city and its place in the world. See Global Positioning at the Smith Street Mall, Sunday 18 - Monday 19 and Thursday 22 – Saturday 24 August.

More information: www.darwinfestival.org.au