Taking dance to new spaces in a bid for growth

you are in the space.”

Coetzer explains that each space they work in comes with its own set of challenges, “They all come with different challenge in terms of logistics and creating a kind of performance space out of them, but that’s what we enjoy.”

Thus far, Darkroom Contemporary have taken part in various p e r f o r manc e s including Scary Monsters ( 2010), Ikarus (2010), Canvas (2011), A Wolf at the door (2012), Swarm (2013) and Blueprint (2014).

Collaboration in an inter-disciplinary way and creating more interactive performance is core to its work ethic. This is another way that the collective has expanded its audiences beyond traditional dance theatre-going crowds.

One of their works, included live painting by street artist Helo Samo, while another included an electronic score performed by Haezer. Collaborators include dancers, physical performers, visual artists, sound designers, photographers, film- makers and digital artists.

The duo of Coetzer and O’Ryan make up the collective, but for each production they team up with dancers from various backgrounds.

One of their main goals is to develop work opportunities for dancers and create an exchange. There are some dancers that they have worked with repeatedly but it varies between projects. Coetzer is a dance teacher at Dance for All in Athlone, where the collective also has its studio.

Darkroom Contemporary has also ventured into dance film, captured by O’Ryan, documenting many of its performances. In this way the duo hope to find alternative ways to break into the global market and create the next step to touring internationally.

Thus far, their dance film works have screened at the Burgundy International Festival of Video Dance ( France), Agite Y Sirva (Mexico), British Film Institute ( UK) and the GLAMY Awards (Finland).

The collective hopes to open new minds and create a conversation towards an appreciation for dance.

There are plans in the pipeline for We, The Transposed to be performed in Johannesburg.

● We, The Transposed runs from Thursday to Saturday at the Youngblood Gallery, Bree Street, Cape Town. Bookings via Quicket. See www.darkroomcontemporary.com