Mirramu Creative Arts Centre partnered with Critical Path to host two creative choreographic workshops in October and November.

The first afforded the opportunity for Indigenous choreographers Carly Sheppard, Eric Avery, Katie Lesley, Joel Bray, Taree Sansbury and Jessica Corse (assistant producer) to spend a week exploring their own practice – without the restraint of having to produce a performance work. This was a time of meditative self-discovery and the artists spent time writing and contemplating about their practice and goals.

The second involved the visit of Taiwanese choreographer, dancer and new media artist Su WenChi with Adelina Larsson, Swedish/Australian choreographer, performer, educator, curator and producer and the founder and artistic director of Strange Attractor. This was a time for the artists to be immersed in nature and to reflect upon their performance practice.

Sharings were held on 3 October and 6 November 2018 respectively with guests including representatives of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Organisation, a Board member of bighART. dancers and local arts practitioners, media and advocates.

Mirramu thanks elder Shane Mortimer for welcoming both groups of artists to country and spending time talking about the Weereewa and surrounding land and heritage.

Funding support is gratefully acknowledged for these residencies from the Australia Council for the Arts, Create NSW, Blakdance, Creative Victoria, Performing Lines, Performance Space and the Taiwanese government through its arts foundation.

Elizabeth has been involved with the Tsai Jui Yueh Foundation for more than 10 years. This year she was commissioned to make a work on the theme of the global refugee crisis for their 13^th festival. Flight for Life – Destroyed was the result, a work dedicated to the refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island and around the world.

There were ten dancers from the Grace Shiau Dance Theatre in this production along with Australian performers Vivienne Rogis and Kenneth Spiteri from Mirramu Dance Company.

Five performances were presented in the TJY International Dance Festival with audiences visibly moved by the issues raised and the work itself. Sensitive and strong performances by all of the dancers created a memorable and significant dance theatre work.