Together Experiences is a series of moving and hopeful films that remind us how lives are changed through the power of creativity and opportunity. They are honest and authentic stories that show the power of the performing arts.
As humans, we long for connection. We're inherently social creatures. We're wired to belong and the relationships we have with ourselves and with others gives us meaning and purpose.
It's the performing arts that bring us together; with our friends and loved ones – even with strangers. They are precious experiences we share that can turn into moments helping us uncover more about who we are and what we believe in.
In our latest series of Together Experiences, you'll hear from singer-songwriter Lily Clancy who took part in one of Art Centre Melbourne's emerging artist programs; dancer Robert Baxter who performed in Lord of the Flies; and sound artist Steph O'Hara who worked on When the World Turns as part of major arts and disability festival, Alter State 2022.
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Lily Clancy is a young singer-songwriter who took part in one of Art Centre Melbourne's donor-funded emerging artists program, Sisters on the Mic. By being part of this program, Lily was able to overcome her fears and anxiety by sharing her song writing with others for the first time.
The experience also connected Lily with other like-minded young people and helped to solidify her goals and new career path, since creating opportunities for her across Australia, the US and UK.
Robert Baxter is a young dancer, choreographer and musician from Shepparton, who performed in Art Centre Melbourne’s production of Lord of the Flies in 2017; a collaborative work with UK choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne OBE.
The work brought together a core team of professional dancers with 23 community dancers between the ages of 10 to 25, who were selected from community workshops held across Victoria.
For Robert, this opportunity to perform sparked the inspiration and motivation to pursue the career they wanted, and to be their authentic self.
Steph O’Hara is an interactive multidisciplinary sound artist who worked on When the World Turns – a collaboration between Polyglot Theatre (Aus) and Oily Cart (UK), and commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne for major arts and disability festival, Alter State 2022.
When the World Turns invites young people with complex disability (who often face the most barriers to access), their families and educators, to adventure into the heart of a wondrous landscape and participate in a sensory state of mind and body.
Steph is passionate about creating connection and joy through sound for young people with disability, and his commitment is reflected through all dimensions of his work.
We thank Polyglot Theatre and Oily Cart for use of their production footage (created by Alana Barker-Tompson) as part of Steph's story.
While our stages were empty and the city was in lockdown in 2021, we shared Series One of Together Experiences. In series one, we heard from award-winning Melbourne choreographer Stephanie Lake, arts lover Lauren Hayes, who was born blind – and Swan Hill local, Thomas Smith who completed a technical traineeship through our Registered Training Organisation.
