If you can dream it is part-flash mob, part community dance, part social gathering, part morality tale and part choreographic utopia. Featuring an inter-generational, cross-cultural cast of professional performers and non-performers. This performance was presented the HillsceneLIVE Festival at Burrinja Cultural Centre 2014.
The work was inspired by Gülsen Özer's collaboration with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Drama Group; working with a group of asylum seekers to create positive connections and tell the human story of asylum seekers journey. Özer was working with the group under the direction of artistic direction of Catherine Simmonds and developing a short work for the 2014 Light in Winter Festival at FedSquare in Melbourne. The vision for this performance came to me almost like a dream whilst I was dancing in the studio one morning. I was inspired by the work I had been doing with the ASRC group. We were working very solidly on the development of 'Square of Light' for The Light in Winer Festival and it wasn't appropriate for me to ask the group to perform in my vision for the 'If you can dream it' project. As such, I set about gathering a different group to perform in the work. I attended a few local social service providers and local community centres as well as asking friends and colleagues. I was thrilled with the positive response. (Gülsen Özer) The space for the development of this project was generously supported by Burrinja Cultural Centre. |
Many thanks to Dianne Reid for filming and editing this documentary clip.
Thanks also to Ariel Haviland for the photo images |
Below 'Light in Winter' Festival Artists 2014!