Hello! As we weave towards the end of 2024 – we move into the BIRAK season for December and January. This season is represented by the colour red as it symbolises heat, sun and fire. In our southwestern corner of Australia, the rain eases and the warm weather starts to take hold, with afternoons cooled by the sea breezes from the south west. Our very own WA Christmas tree – moodjar – (Nuytsia floribunda) begins to bloom.
Blooming WA Christmas tree – moodjar (Nuytsia floribunda).
It is a time to review and reflect on 2024, and to revive for the year ahead. October and November have been busy times for the Lifespan Team, with our weekly community classes, outreach classes, extraordinary number of Seniors Week events and public performances.
Community Classes have settled after our sprouting! Mandurah, Kwinana, Dalkeith and Vincent dancers have been so lovely to teach, together with Ruby, Ebony, Ella, Liz and Christine. We have explored themes of The Senses and are now skating/gifting/glimmering our way into the Christmas block. HUGE thanks to our partnering organisations who support the weekly classes in generous ways – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, City of Kwinana, City of Nedlands and City of Vincent – we are so thankful for your help. HUGE thanks to our SENSATIONAL volunteers who have helped – Simone, Jill, Noel, Ruby, Xin, Bridie – across the year.
Outreach Classes where our teaching dance artists come to you – have been at capacity. Recently, we have led classes at Alchera, Bethanie Como, MercyCare Wembley, MercyCare Joondalup, MercyCare Halls Head, Carine Opalcare, St Jude’s, City of Gosnells Seniors, Town of Victoria Park Library, Safety Bay Library, Warnbro Library, Ocean Beach Gardens, Aegis Greenfields, Curtin Heritage, and Aegis Hamilton Hill. We were also able to travel to Northam (October) to deliver classes at Juniper Bethavon and Juniper Residence.
Thank you to the kind and caring staff who assist us in these classes, who sometimes become the back-up dancers – we are grateful for you!
Performances of WHORL at Mandurah Arts Festival 2024
Our mighty appreciation to the Mandurah Arts Festival team! We were thrilled to be commissioned to create and perform a new Seated Dance performance titled WHORL. An ensemble of brave performers learnt the choreography to stunning music by Louis Frere-Harvey, and performed it in front of 3,400 people as part of the ‘Under the Bridge’ Concert. It was superb!
Performance at Mandurah Art Festival 2024 1
Performance at Mandurah Art Festival 2024 2
Performances of WHORL at AGWA 2024
Building on the wonderful experience with the Exquisite Bodies performance last year, we were able to perform this work in the wonderful Gallery 09 Space amongst the Forecast exhibition. The performers were magical and the performances were powerful. Big thanks to Lilly B and the AGWA Creative Learning staff. Our yarning circle at the end of the second performance was a wonderful moment! Stunning photographs by Damian Doyle.
Performance of WHORL at AGWA 1 (Photo Credit: Damian Doyle)
Performance of WHORL at AGWA 2 (Photo Credit: Damian Doyle)
The 2025 Diary – SAVE THE DATES!
February 1 at 2:30 – 5pm – 10 year celebrations of Dance for Parkinson’s WA. We are celebrating the DP program, the enormity of ongoing value and impact, and we are celebrating people – 4 of the original dancers – John, Shelley, Derek and Lois – are still attending classes, and will be VIP’s at the event. Partnering with Parkinson’s WA & Ausdance WA, the event will be held at The Niche, on Saturday Feb 1st from 2:30 – 5pm, and will incorporate a screening of Capturing Grace, some presentations, messages and afternoon tea.
If you have been involved in the DP program in the past decade – as a dancer, a teacher, a volunteer, or supporter – please consider attending. We are also gathering reflections and photos from across that decade – we would love YOUR help. Invitations in the New Year – we would love to see you.
February 5 – Community Classes start back!
April 20 – 27 – Great Southern Regional Tour (tbc)
May 15 – 19 – Performances of WHORL at the Red Earth Arts Festival 2025 (Karratha & Wickham) https://www.reaf.com.au/
2024 has been a HUGE year – with over 330 classes taught, 9,500 people reached and 6 public performances. We are very happy to have been able to reach so many people, reliably, consistently and with such a quality dance experience – only possible due to our brilliant and generous 2024 Donors We light candles to remember the dancers that have left us in 2024 and hold those memories close.
Thank you to the wonderful Dance for Parkinson’s colleagues for your inspiration, energy and care.