New Venue for March Performance Retreat

Ladyfinger at Green's Creek, March 19-23, 2014

You are invited to join Dawn Albinger and Julie Robson for a five-day voyage of creative discovery, March 19 - 23, 2014.

Drawing on processes used to create one-woman shows and ensemble productions, and using Ladyfinger’s research into the voice of the of the sirens, this fully-catered retreat will include:

• processes for opening to your own creative impulses,

• writing and physical explorations (in-door and in nature),

• perceptual practices, breath awareness and vocal strategies,

• storytelling with word, image and sound,

• meditation and ritual.

Participants will explore ways in which to transform life experience into contemporary performance material. Open to both novices and experienced performers, this creative lab deliciously weaves the craft of living with the craft of theatre. It offers time and space for deep reflection as well as rigorous exploration and experimentation. All participants can expect to take their first steps towards conceptualising the premise and scene-work for a solo show.

Prices:

Returning participants: $990

New participants: $1190

Places are limited. For more information and to book please contact Dawn Albinger on d.albinger@gmail.com

Dawn Albinger trained as an actor at Victorian College of Arts and has worked as performance practitioner for over twenty years, creating numerous solos and ensemble works. Dawn also co-facilitates the annual Spirit of Woman intensives run by High Spirits Retreat. She has co-founded the performance group Sacred COW, as well as the women in theatre network Magdalena Australia. She was artistic director of the inaugural 2003 International Magdalena Australia Festival, Theatre- Women-Travelling. Dawn has undertaken doctoral studies at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, investigating the Diva icon and its usefulness to feminist theatre praxis.

Following her degree in theatre and education at Queensland University of Technology, Julie Robson initiated and worked extensively in vocal, jazz and theatre ensembles, including a cappella troupe Sister Moon Ensemble, Tokyo-based jazz trio Honeybeeswing, and performance group sacred COW. She also co-founded Magdalena Australia. When she completed her doctoral studies on siren vocality and female sound, she was appointed the author and coordinator of the Contemporary Performance course at Edith Cowan University where she produced numerous original works. Julie then became a postdoctoral fellow at ECU, focusing on innovation and the arts. She has served as a board member for the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and remains an advisor to PICA’s performance and education programs.

Introducing Tivoli Retreat at Green's Creek!

"I can feel peaceful, present prayers in this place. It feels like a place of love and
wholeness…
The planning and devotion that has been put in place settles in gently, yet powerfully.
It is very cleansing, clearing and purifying – respectfully, with class and integrity.
It is a place to be real, wholesome, genuine, a la natural, all with ease.
Cut the drama…find the stillness. Peace."

The Tivoli Retreat at Green's Creek opened in January 2014. Located two hours north of Brisbane, and created by Jorgen Sorenson, who designed High Spirits Retreat, The Tivoli Retreat is intended as a space for smaller groups to come together to access their creativity, and nourish their bodies, minds and spirit. Ladyfinger is delighted that Mette and Jorgen have invited us to use this new and luxurious retreat for our March Performance Lab. We think it will be the perfect space in which to explore and create.

Future Retreats: October 15-19, 2014.