FORSEEN

Eric William Avery, a dancer from Newtown, is performing in Riverside Theatre’s Forseen, a double bill choreographed by Narelle Benjamin and Frances Rings. “I’ve been given a real insight into contemporary dance,” Eric tells me. “Nell’s work involves yoga and other types of dance whereas Frances’ has elements of indigenous dance.”  Eric, a descendant of the Ngiiyampa; Yuin; and Gambangirri peoples of NSW, has achieved a lot in his 21 years. He has trained with Shopfront Theatre; Newtown School for the Performing Arts; and NAISDA Dance College. “When I was five I would do traditional indigenous dance with my dad in the Sydney Museum,” he said laughing. “By 13 I was doing physical theatre, by 16 I was doing ballet, then contemporary dance at 17.” He has danced with the NIBROLL collective in Japan, and performed in Deon Hastie’s Caught in Melbourne. “Audiences are going to walk away from Forseen with the sense of having experienced two very different pieces. Narelle’s is about nostalgia and memory and Frances’ is about middens and the sacred spaces. This is very special to me because they’re connected to me and my people.”

Apr 6-9, Riverside Theatre, Corner Church & Market Sts, Parramatta, $25-30, 8839 3399, riversideparramatta.com.au