Arts, Fashion and Film

The arts are a key focus for the Australian pavilion at World Expo, with an inventive, contemporary program designed to expand perceptions of Australian culture.

More than 200 Australian artists and creative personnel are travelling to Aichi, and the pavilion’s program will feature five world-premier compositions and performances:

• the pavilion’s Resident Company’s repertoire;
• Dan Walker’s composition for Sydney Children’s Choir and Nagoya Children’s Choir;
• a unique ‘River of light’ collaborative performance;
• Bangarra Dance Theatre (see above image) Artistic Director Stephen Page’s world premier choreography of National Day morning ceremony;
• Sandy Evan’s gift of melody composition for the GC6 nations on ‘Marine Day’ at Expo.

Resident Company

In addition to visiting artists including Simon Tedeschi, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Martinez, Waratah and Linsey Pollack, the Australian pavilion has a Resident Company of six young multi-skilled theatrical graduates, each with a different specialist artistic skill. Kate Denborough, Artistic Director of Kage Physical Theatre, is the Company’s Director, and has worked with the cast to develop and direct a series of unique new works specifically for the World Expo site.

Underlining one of Expo’s key messages – that of community and collaboration – more than 200 Nagoya students will join leading Australian artists to achieve a total of 400 performers.

The Expo arts program has strong support from the state governments of Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, each with featured week-long celebrations. Other events include ‘Squirt’ by Linsey Pollack, featuring touch-sensitive umbrellas that emit a random “frog soundscape” as the public squirts them with water, and a Children’s Book Workshop, developed in association with Asialink and with funding from the Australia Council.

>> www.expo2005.com.au