Dancer and Choreographer, James Batchelor has been announced as the recipient of Chunky Move’s prestigious Next Move 2017 commission.
2017 marks the 10th anniversary of Next Move, a program that directly supports and promotes Australia’s unique choreographic voice. This milestone will be celebrated with the full-length commission by James Batchelor over a two-week season in November at the Chunky Move Studios, Southbank.
Next Move 2017 is not only an opportunity to develop a new contemporary work presented by Chunky Move it also includes opportunities for national and international touring.
A pivotal and unprecedented platform for Australian independent dance makers, Next Move has commissioned a range of Australian artists to create new works, offering them full creative control and access to the resources and producing expertise of Chunky Move.
‘It is wonderful to see Chunky Move’s Next Move program reach its 10th anniversary this year. Over the past ten years, the program has a proud and celebrated history, having provided unprecedented opportunities to many independent choreographers, performers and creatives. With the support of our government partners, Australia Council for the Arts and Creative Victoria, we are proud to contribute to choreographic development in Australia and to nurture a vibrant contemporary dance scene. We are thrilled to welcome James Batchelor as this year’s Next Move recipient and look forward to seeing him bring his artistic voice to Chunky Move’, says Anouk van Dijk, Artistic Director, Chunky Move.
‘I am so excited to have this opportunity to create a new work with Chunky Move’, says James Batchelor. ‘There have been so many inspiring works commissioned through the Next Move program and I am absolutely honoured to be part of this initiative that supports independent choreographers. This being the 10th year of the Next Move program, I am looking forward to working with Chunky Move and my collaborators to re-imagine what is possible. We will be working hard throughout the year on our creation and developing new ways to engage with audiences in the studio and online.’
James Batchelor’s mission as an artist is to make work that inspires curiosity. To shift assumptions, widen awareness and create possibility. He strives to find ways that dance can be a conversation, collaboration and exchange with other disciplines and communities. His work is particular in how it responds to context, from conception to presentation; it strongly considers how a performance exists within a specific space and time. James’ projects have been presented by major festivals and venues around the world in theatres, galleries, museums and public contexts.
Previous recipients of Next Move include Stephanie Lake, Atlanta Eke, Antony Hamilton, Adam Wheeler, Benjamin Hancock, Melanie Lane and Jo Lloyd and Nicola Gunn.
Chunky Move is Victoria’s flagship contemporary dance company and Next Move is their commitment to developing the next generation of leading dance makers. For the past nine years, they have commissioned a range of Australian artists to create new works, offering them full creative control and access to the resources and producing expertise of the Company.
