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During 2005-06 Australian choreographic talents Kate Denborough, Sue Healey, Jo Lloyd, Tess de Quincey and Leigh Warren, through the Asialink Neon Rising Program, worked with an exciting mix of Japanese choreographers, dancers, designers, architects, screen-based and new media practitioners.

Projects ranged from the development of a dance film, dance performances, installations to multimedia presentations in Australia and Japan, all culminating during the ‘Year of Cultural Exchange’.  Developed by Asialink in partnership with the Dance Board of the Australia Council, Neon Rising was a natural extension of the Asialink Residency Program. Over 17 years the Residency Program has supported 450 artist residencies in Asia, forging artistic relationships in the region. Neon Rising was developed to support ‘second stage’ dance projects arising from those residencies.

This model of cultural exchange celebrates the creative process, reciprocity and risk taking, while emphasising the importance of nurturing projects and relationships over an extended period of time. This model of cultural exchange celebrates the creative process, reciprocity and risk taking, while emphasising the importance of nurturing projects and relationships over an extended period of time.

The dance community and audiences in both countries have already enjoyed the fruits of these collaborations. Denborough’s partnership has resulted in the physical theatre piece Ink which premiered in Osaka and Tokyo. Leigh Warren’s collaboration Wanderlust went on to seasons at two of Tokyo’s premier theatres. Sydney audiences experienced Tess de Quincey’s dynamic Impro-Lab at the Sydney Opera House, while Sue Healey’s dance film Will Time Tell? has enjoyed global attention, appearing as a finalist in international video and film festivals.

This program has been supported by the Dance Board of the Australia Council, Arts Victoria, Arts NSW, Arts SA, Critical Path, the City of Melbourne, the Besen Family Foundation, the Saison Foundation and the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

Neon Rising Publication [pdf, 1.8mb, 15 pages]