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Collusion creates new arts experiences

A program of chamber music and dance from Collusion will bring new arts experience to Queenslanders, including those with a disability, with funding from Arts Queensland.

Brisbane-based Collusion, co-directed by Benjamin Greaves and Gareth Belling, creates authentic chamber music, chamber ballet and disability community access arts experiences for diverse audiences. The company's next work, the chamber ballet Muscle Memory, will be presented at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts from 17 - 20 August.

In Muscle Memory, musicians from Collusion's String Quartet will work alongside pre-professional dancers from Queensland Ballet for their first professional roles as dancers in a remount of five of director Gareth Belling's ballets including Transference (a pas de deux). Originally performed by Queensland Ballet in 2011, Transference highlights Gareth's innovative costume design of the upturned tutu and features the violin and piano Sonata by Australia-Ukrainian composer Catherine Likhuta.

"This ballet literally turns the traditional ballet tutu on its head," Gareth said.

Muscle Memory will also mark the launch of Collusion's crowd funding campaign to extend Collusion's disability outreach program beyond its current programming in Ipswich and Redland Bay. 

Benjamin Greaves said it was his dream to expand the disability outreach program, which brought musicians and community care centres together. 

"The aim of the crowd funding campaign is to deliver this program statewide and nationally and ensure it will operate well into the future," Benjamin said.

"The logistics and expense for persons with a disability to attend a concert in Brisbane CBD is often prohibitive. These expenses often outweigh the cost of an actual ticket to the event. Let’s take musicians to people, and engage people in active listening. Anything we can do to make these people’s lives more fulfilling is my way of saying thank you for the music," he said.

Investment from the Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP) is helping Collusion to achieve their goals. Since opening in September 2015, 63 QASP applications have been funded (as at 30 June 2016) for a total of $2 018 014, investing in vibrant arts and cultural projects across the state. These projects help to connect communities, create employment opportunities and showcase Queensland artists locally, nationally and overseas.

For tickets to Muscle Memory go to http://judithwrightcentre.com/event/muscle_memory

Images by FenLan Chuang. Courtesy: Collusion.