[MIS]CONCEIVE by Thomas E.S. Kelly

NORPA presents
[MIS]CONCEIVE
By Thomas E.S.Kelly
Friday 29 June, 7:30pm and Saturday 30 June, 2pm & 7:30pm
NORPA at Lismore City Hall
Tickets: $20- $36
Bookings: www.norpa.org.au or call 1300 066 772
Patron Advice: Recommended for ages 12+

What does an Aboriginal Australian look like? Act like? Sound like? Do they all have black skin, live in the bush and are they naked? Choreographer Thomas E.S. Kelly will give you a clue – not all of them.

[MIS]CONCEIVE is a powerful new dance-theatre work by Thomas E.S. Kelly who recently received the 2018 National Indigenous Art Dreaming Award for an emerging artist.

[MIS]CONCEIVE challenges the idea that knowledge equals comprehension. Using an exciting mash-up of traditional and contemporary styles, dance and spoken word, [MIS]CONCEIVE simultaneously rejects, reveals and re-educates (mis)undertsandings about what it means to be an Indigenous Australian.

Kelly and his ensemble move with assured physicality in this high-energy work that pulses with humour, play and personal stories. [MIS]CONCEIVE brings audiences through the past, to understand the present, and move forward into a better future. The work also earned Kelly a coveted Green Room Award for Outstanding Choreography by an Emerging Choreographer last year.

“Thomas E.S. Kelly has carved out a place for himself as one of the next generation’s storytellers. Through his physical exploits on identity and observations of the Australian gaze we get a small insight into his world and how he is perceived in it. With wry commentary on the state of a nation this new work deserves to be seen. We are very proud and excited to be bringing this work to NORPA and our committed audiences,” said NORPA Associate Director Kirk Page.

Thomas E.S.Kelly has had a long association with NORPA – he was involved in the creative developments of Three Brothers and Djurra and was in residency at NORPA in 2017 developing a new project called WOLLUMBIN // WARNING.

“NORPA Production Manager, Karl Johson, will be working with Thomas to expand upon his lighting design for [MIS]CONCEIVE and draw up the lighting plans and plot to use for his overseas tour,” said NORPA General Manager Patrick Healey “NORPA is proud to be able to contribute to helping Thomas see this amazing production go overseas.”

“While at NORPA, Thomas is also providing Bundjalung youth and emerging artists dance workshops and the benefit of his choreographic and performance experience. This is an incredible opportunity for the participants and it reflects the positive way in which performers and artists nurture and support each other,” said Healey.

Thomas E.S. Kelly is a proud Bundjalung and Wiradjuri man with Ni-Vanuatu, Irish and heritage. A NAISDA Dance College graduate Thomas is an artist who works with multiple art forms which include choreography, dance, theatre, music composition, puppetry and teaching. He has performed with Australia’s top dance theatre companies including Shaun parker & Co, Erth and Chunky Move.

Choreographer/Performer/Composer: Thomas E.S. Kelly
Performers: Taree Sansbury, Caleena Sansbury, Natalie Pelarek

 “[MIS]CONCEIVE’s power is in the riveting choreography and dance performance. Fierce and exciting, I’m eager to see what Kelly will do next.” ArtsHub

“A clear and measured, not furious, claim for identity” RealTime Arts