About
Counterpoise is a landmark initiative that brought together a diverse array of global and local entities, with two inclusive dance companies and a university at the heart of the project: Restless Dance Theatre; 29Dong Dance Theatre; and University of South Australia. Collaborating with academics Dr Lee and Professor Rentschler at University of South Australia Connect2Abilities, Korean Music Project (KMP) featuring Australian musician Clara Gant, lighting designer, Mathew Adey, and film director Matthew Byrne, and Korean documentary company, The Third Point Person. This ambitious collaboratory team was made up of 57 people working together to bridge cultural divides and celebrate diversity through the mediums of dance, music, film and publications. The Counterpoise project started in 2019 and was performed live in Seoul in 2023.
Counterpoise
By Restless Dance Theatre, University of South Australia Connect2Abilities, 29Dong Dance Theatre & Korean Music Project. Directed by Matt Byrne & Larissa McGowan.
Counterpoise is a stirring dance video made in collaboration between Australia’s leading dance company working with artists with and without disability, Restless Dance Theatre, University of South Australia Connect2Abilities, and Korean dance company, 29Dong Dance Theatre, and Korean Music Project. Directed by Restless Associate Artist Larissa McGowan and Matt Byrne.
The work was created at the height of the pandemic. Coronavirus forced everyone to find ways to form connections when physical closeness was inherently dangerous. Working on cross-cultural projects via online technologies brought four global organisations together to create a bold new dance work for screen.
Counterpoise highlights the noise of life outside, and the quiet place within. It is a raw and compassionate moment in time, showcasing how we balance the forces of quiet loneliness and the human frenzy that press on us daily. Counterpoise asks the question, what is our universal culture? Are we heading to a tipping point of a vastly similar human experience, irrespective of the lines that divide us?
Presentations and Awards
- Screening – The 5th Luminous Festival, Hong Kong, September 2023
- Performance – Seoul Street Art Festival, October 2023
- Finalist – Creative Australia’s Asia Pacific Arts Awards, April 2024
- Winner – Best Editing, Idaho Screendance Festival, June 2024
- Winner – Best Performance, Experimental, Dance & Music Festival, Toronto, July 2024
- Officially Selected- Adelaide Film Festival, October 2024
- Officially Selected – OzAsia Festival, October 2024
- Semi Finalist – Zensa Media International Film Festival, Montréal, November 2024
- Officially Selected – Seoul Dance Film Festival, April 2025
- Officially Selected – Festival Videodanza de Puerto Rico, May 2025
Dancing Against The Odds
By Restless Dance Theatre, University of South Australia Connect2Abilities, 29Dong Dance Theatre & Korean Music Project. Directed by Matt Byrne.
In a stunning accompanying documentary, produced by Dr. Boram Lee and Professor Ruth Rentschler from University of South Australia Connect2Abilities and directed by Matt Byrne, we follow the making of Counterpoise. The highs and lows and the determination of all the artists to continue to collaborate to make great art, cross culturally during a pandemic.
The documentary showcases the dedication and tenacity of everyone involved. Through online technologies and face-to-face rehearsals, the creative team blurred the boundaries of separate identities, global challenges, and cultural barriers to create a new dance work for screen.
Presentations and Awards
- Finalist – Creative Australia’s Asia Pacific Arts Awards, April 2024
- Officially Selected – Adelaide Film Festival, October 2024
- Officially Selected – OzAsia Festival, October 2024
- Honorable Mention – Zensa Media International Film Festival, Montréal, November 2024
- Officially Selected – Festival Videodanza de Puerto Rico, May 2025
Counterpoise Dance Film and Dancing Against the Odds Documentary are one short dance film and one feature length documentary that can be screened together or separately.
