SHORT SWEET + DANCE

Sometimes it seems the Short + Sweet phenomenon has got tentacles extending into every creative pool in Sydney, Melbourne, and even New Zealand. Recently a slew of fresh talent presented over 300 ten minute scripts from bedroom bards to established writers in Short Sweet + Theatre, and now they are setting their sights on the emerging dancers, choreographers and directors of Sydney for Short Sweet + Dance. The same rules apply – ten minutes or less to literally strut your stuff. “It’s really hard for a dancer to find an audience,” says one of the hopefuls, Chloe Fournier (pictured in the tutu). “Short + Sweet and the Fringe Festival are changing things, but it’s taking a very long time.” Originally from France, Fournier found the Sydney dance world incredibly closed, and for emerging dancers it was difficult to not only find collaborators, money for the rent, but even a willing crowd to perform to. “Contemporary dance is so diverse it can be scary, they may’ve had a bad experience before!” laughs Fournier. Certainly this year’s line up has some scary elements; a Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, sleepwalking, psychotic girls, and even some Seinfeld on Tap – Chris Horsey’s 3 Hits & a Miss. Fournier’s piece will incorporate projections and music scored by co-dancer Imogen Cranna – “We were attached to doing something from A-Z.” Past success stories – including Festival First Night’s youMove performance, collaborations with famed choreographer Shaun Parker and the Phluxus Dance Collective residency in Dublin – prove it may well be worth the effort.

Mar 30-Apr 17, week 1 at Riverside Theatre, cnr Church & Market St Parramatta, weeks 2-3 Parades Theatre, NIDA, Anzac Pde, Kensington, $22-28, 1300 795 012, www.ticketek.com.au