U>N>I>T>E>D

Synopsis:

★★★★
"the pride and product of ambitions beyond the capabilities of our biological bodies."
– ArtsHub
"Visually arresting and full of possibility."
– Dance Australia

Enter an otherworldly amalgamation of hyper-articulate movement, infectious music, and science-fiction inspired design in Chunky Move's latest work.

With thunderous fury, U>N>I>T>E>D offers audiences an epic vision of machine mysticism. A synthesis of body, machine and spirit is embodied by six masterful dancers who give life to lurking energies latent within the industrial environment of our world. The work is a major international collaboration with leaders in the Balinese experimental music scene, Gabber Modus Operandi, Bali-based streetwear label Future Loundry, Australian global leaders in animatronic design, Creature Technology Co., and award-winning lighting designer Benjamin Cisterne.

Drawing from its artists' individual artistic and cultural practices, U>N>I>T>E>D honours technologies and rituals both ancient and contemporary, imagining a world of mythic proportions in which earthly forms commune with the gods of the machine world.

U>N>I>T>E>D is the latest work in the canon of Chunky Move Artistic Director Antony Hamilton's 'speculative future' performances, following recent innovative dance experiences created by the company,Token Armies (2019) and Yung Lung (2022).

The Asian premiere of this production is presented as part of da:ns focus – Connect Asia Now (CAN), a weekend that spotlights contemporary dance works created by or in collaboration with Asian artists, focusing on distinct voices and creative impulses from the region.

A programme of 60 Connections – At Home and Afar, a year-long season of Singapore stories and international collaborations in celebration of SG60.

Production Credits

Artistic Direction & Choreography: Antony Hamilton

Sound Design & Composition: Gabber Modus Operandi

Costume Design: Future Loundry

Exoskeleton Design & Fabrication: Creature Technology Co.

Lighting Design: Benjamin Cisterne

Performers & Choreography: Ashley McLellan, Melissa Pham, David Prakash, Samakshi Sidhu, Robert Alejandro Tinning, Jayden Wall

Stage/Set Design/Fabrication and Art Finishing: Ashley Buchanan and Antony Hamilton

Set and Costume LED Fabrication: Shiv Geaney

Outside Eye: Melanie Lane

Production Manager: Ashley Buchanan

System Engineer and Head Electrician: Shiv Geaney

Lighting Operator: Nicholas Moloney

Sound Engineer: Ethan Hunter

Executive Director/co-CEO: Kristy Ayre

Senior Producer: Kristina Arnott

U>N>I>T>E>D was commissioned by Asia TOPA, Arts Centre Melbourne, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Perth Festival.

U>N>I>T>E>D  is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, the City of Melbourne, and the Playking Foundation via a Playking Foundation Travel Grant.