FRAME: A Biennial of Dance

Overview

March is the month of movement here in Melbourne, all thanks to a brand-new major dance event twirling its way through the city. Running from Wednesday, March 1–Friday, March 31, the debut edition of dance biennial FRAME is serving up a stacked program of performances, talks, exhibitions, screenings and more.

Expect a diverse lineup of events spotlighting talent both renowned and emerging, taking over venues including Arts House, The Substation and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.

Celebrated Aussie choreographer Lucy Guerin presents a 21-artist performance installation recapturing elements from 21 of her company's previous productions, while A Certain Mumble sees First Nations dancer Amelia O'Leary and Chinese Malaysian artist Janelle Tan dissect the nuances of cultural identity.

'NEWRETRO', by Gregory Lorenzutti

Elsewhere, there's a huge participatory public dance work titled Us and All of This, Jackie Sheppard's visceral exploration of grief, and Yumi Umiumare's mystical performance piece IN-VOCATION, which features a Japanese clairvoyant and uses 3D video in a compelling homage to the divine feminine. Plus, Raina Peterson fuses traditional Indian dance with the contemporary for psychedelic work Mohini.

Further highlights include film-based exhibition REALREEL, a work-in-progress showcase by The Australian Ballet and — for those inspired to get moving themselves — a stack of free morning dance classes led by the likes of Chunky Move and Lucy Guerin Inc.

'Slip', by Sarah Walker

Top image: Mohini by Anne Moffat.