Shepparton’s Awaken Dance Theatre Company is taking 2022 in its stride with brand new work Automatic and the reworking of immersive experience Bloom.
After performing two sold out shows of the contemporary dance show Bloom at the Woolshed, as part of the Shepparton Festival in March, the troupe of 25 is making moves to the stage.
Director Kyla McGregor said the group created the full dance work in only 10 weeks.
The dancers were mentored by The Australian Ballet Education Team as part of their three-year partnership funded by The Fairley Foundation.
“We created an immersive experience where the imagery, sound, lighting and performance was in close proximity, these elements were in front, behind, above, below and around the audience,” she said.
“It was amazing and had a beautiful atmosphere.”
She said the feedback prompted Awaken to try something new for the season — not only is it the first time the group will perform two new works in the same year, it is holding its first double-bill show.
The group is bringing Bloom to a new theatre setting with its original cast alongside Automatic, welcoming eight new members.
“Audiences will get two performances for the price of one!” Ms McGregor said.
“This new season will feature more lighting effects, and the choreography will be turned around to suit theatre-style seating instead of being in the round.
“They’re quite contrasting works, Bloom has a very natural theme to it whereas Automatic is very mechanical and industrial.”
The double-bill show will have two performances, on Friday, July 1, and Saturday, July 2, at Riverlinks Westside. Tickets will be available on Friday, June 3, via Riverlinks.