Renowned French dancer and choreographer Frank Micheletti will examine the changing relationship between individuals and their community when he interprets the Tasmanian experience through dance during an artistic residency in Launceston.
Frank will be in Launceston from November 8-25, thanks to the residency presented by the University of Tasmania and the French Embassy in partnership with Junction Arts Festival.
Academic and creative lead for the partnership, Kim Lehman, said the University was excited to be working with the French Embassy.
“Frank will be creating a work around the theme ‘being together, being alone -what does it mean to come together in a world that is constantly changing?’,” Dr Lehman said.
“We believe this is highly relevant to the way Tasmanians think about community and the place we live in.
“The University has an important role to play in increasing local involvement in cultural activities.”
The French Embassy’s cultural attache and artistic director, Phillippe Platel, said the Embassy was very proud to be hosting Frank, who is an “utterly curious and adventurous artist”.
“Frank’s residency is the second partnership between the University of Tasmania and the Embassy of France aimed at inviting French artists from all sorts of disciplines to experience an Australian adventure in different territories,” Mr Platel said.
“I have a particular attachment to Tasmania and I’m sure Frank will have an extraordinary time in Launceston.”
Frank’s dance genre is a hydrid of hip hop and dance forms from all over the world.
“He is also a DJ and likes to combine the disciplines of dance and DJ-ing to create new forms,” Mr Platel said.
The Chair of the Junction Arts Festival, Elizabeth Frankham, said it was brilliant to see a partnership forged which brought an international context to the city of Launceston and its people.
“Frank will work with the city to create a new performance that celebrates cultural exchange,” Ms Frankham said.
Frank will conduct free workshops with 16- to 21-year-olds at the University’s Newnham campus during the residency.
Project Coordinator Grace Walsh said young people would have the opportunity to create an artistic piece for a collaborative live performance with Frank at the Inveresk Precinct from 5 pm to 6 pm on November 23.
Frank, 52, has been a high-profile dancer in Europe since co-founding Kubilai Khan Investigations in 1996.
He is based in the southern city of Toulon where he runs the Constellations dance festival every September.
He has been an Associate Artist at a number of prestigious cultural organisations, including one of France’s major public theatre and cultural centres – La Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand scène nationale.
Frank initially studied theatre before deciding to concentrate on dance.
Residency events
- 11-22 November – workshops with young people at Newnham campus;
- 23 November – public performance at Inveresk Precinct.
Image: Frank Micheletti by Sem Brundu.
