LARGEST EVER ARTIST GROUP TO EMBARK ON MENTORING JOURNEY

Youth Arts Queensland today announced the participants of the 2012 JUMP National Mentoring Program. Seventy-five young and emerging artists - the largest ever intake into an Australian artist mentoring program - have made their artistic match and, over the next ten months, will work with respected arts professionals to advance their careers and make their mark on the Australian arts industry. Funded by the Australia Council for the Arts as part of their 2008 – 2012 programs of support for Young and Emerging Artists, JUMP identifies and promotes excellence in artistic practice.
The Northern Territory has five JUMP recipients who will work with their mentors and Corrugated Iron over the course of the year to develop their arts practice and realise their project
The mentees and their mentors will be gathering in Adelaide in early Feb to go through orientation in tandem with the SA crew before embarking on an exciting year.

THAI PUPPET COMPANY VISITS CORRUGATED IRON

Wandering Moon Shadow Theatre Puppet Company
Hosted by Corrugated Iron Youth Arts
1 – 12 November 2011

The Wandering Moon Performing Group & Endless Journey’ is a shadow puppet theatre group based in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. From 1 to 12 November 2011, Wandering Moon will be in residence at Corrugated Iron Youth Arts, sharing their skills, culture and stories through performances and workshops.

Wandering Moon will be presenting free performances in Darwin, including: Saturday 6 November at Corrugated Iron Youth Arts in Nightcliff Community Centre, and Thursday 3 Nov at the Mandorah Hotel.

Wandering Moon will hold workshops in shadow puppetry, string puppet making, and Thai kite making on the weekend of 5 & 6 November. Anyone wishing to join the workshops or come to the performances can register their interest with Corrugated Iron, T: 8948 3200 or E: info@corrugatediron.org.au

While in Darwin, Wandering Moon will also work with children taking part in the Bridging Cultures program (funded by the NAB ‘Schools First’ initiative) at Nightcliff Primary School.

The members of Wandering Moon are keen to meet local artists, working in any artform. Artists are welcome to come to Corrugated Iron to meet with the Company during their residency.

Wandering Moon creates a magical world from fragile puppets. The curiosity of audiences draws them backstage once the performance ends, to see what magic is hidden behind the thin white screen.
Every puppet has a different shadow and its own unique character, very much like its creators. In workshops, the ugliest puppet can turn into the most attractive in the world of shadow. The shyest child becomes the most
full-hearted and energetic puppeteer. It is these things that make telling stories with shadow theatre special.

As well as children’s performances, Wandering Moon are known for their work with organisations such as ‘Save the Children (UK)’. In these collaborations the company runs workshops in refugee camps and hospitals, provides performances to address traditionally taboo issues such as safe sex and physical abuse, and trains fellow artists in the use of shadow puppetry for community development projects.

“This project is supported by the Commonwealth through the Australia-Thailand Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade”.

SITA & RAMA'S MYSTICAL JOURNEY: It's a Wrap
By Zoe Mitchell

Thurs 1st Sept 2011

I recently went and saw the Corrugated Iron Youth Art’s production, Sita and Rama’s Mystical Journey, and was extremely glad I did. The place it was held, in the Botanical Gardens, truly brought the performances to life, as we got to sit on the grass, almost surrounded by the set. The show and performances were spectacular, I actually believed I was right there in Indonesia! Read on...

Before the show I snuck backstage and caught up with 18 year old, Jessica Pickworth, one of the key cast members, who played the difficult role of the evil villain, Rhawana. When asked what she hoped the audience would take away from the performances she said, “I hope they will be able to see the Balinese dancing and appreciate it, and those who come from Bali and Indonesia to feel more at home.”
Sita and Rama Mystical Journey was a really fun and playful show. I eagerly look forward to next year’s production.

Introducing Nikki Jeffries...Our new circus trainer

Tuesday 30th August 2011

What’s your background in circus?
My circus history really began in 1994 with Zippos Circus, a big touring tented show that tours the UK. The circus ran a 6 month student program, called Zippos Academy of Circus Arts, which moved around with the main show but had it's own tent. We were taught a range of ground based skills including minitramp, table tumbling, trampoline, basic acrobalance, juggling, clowning and balloon mime and on aerial skills such as Cloudswing, Static and Swinging Trapeze, Doubles Trapeze, Cordelisse, Web spinning and some Flying. We performed our routines in front of audiences at festivals and sometimes in the main show too.

After I finished the course, I went on to continue with touring shows in the UK and Germany for 5 years. Then after I had my son, I moved on to working site specifically and teaching aerial and circus skills with Expressive Feat Productions.
In the last 5 years I have focussed more on rigging for aerial companies and theatre shows enabling others to do fantastic things in unusual places.

Your career highlight?
I think my proudest moment was having the honour of being Creative Rigger for the Scottish National Theatre's version of Peter Pan. All the flying was done with bungees so Peter was, quite literally, bouncing off the walls! The show toured around Scotland and London's Barbican Theatre.
My second favourite was performing Flying Trapeze at a Simply Red concert at Old Trafford Football ground. Absolutely terrifying and fantastic fun!

What do you enjoy most about teaching young people circus?
The thing I most enjoy about teaching young people circus is the joy and excitement they get from achieving something new and through using their bodies. When I first learnt to juggle I found it incredibly hard. They day I finally got it I was so elated! It's great to be able to give young people the opportunity to feel fantastic about themselves and the things they can achieve.

What's the best advice you can give young people aspiring to learn circus?

The best advice I can give about learning circus is 'Never say never!'
If you want to do it, you can! Concentrate, keep trying, keep calm and have fun!

What's your favourite thing about Darwin?

Meeting lots of new and welcoming people. Seeing loads of new animals I have never seen before. And most of all, the sound of the Bush Fowl calling at night.

Greg McNamara and Lena Yali

Tuesday 16th August 2011

Corrugated Iron is deeply moved by Greg and Lena's families’ decision to encourage friends and family to make a donation to our community arts organisation.

We encourage young people in our community to be creative, express themselves and contribute to the diversity of our Territory lifestyle, values which were held dearly by Greg and Lena.

People wishing to make a donation do by:

EFT to BSB 065 901
Account 1050 5890
Reference: lena&greg

Or by cheque made out to Corrugated Iron
Post: PO Box 728, Nightcliff NT 0814

Or by contacting the Corrugated Iron office
8948 3200 or info@corrugatediron.org.au

Donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Greg and Lena have provided us all with inspiration to work towards a creative and hopeful future.

Thank you.

Corrugated Iron the new Northern Territory Delivery Partner for JUMP

Tuesday 9th August 2011

JUMP is funded by the Australia Council for the Arts and managed nationally by Youth Arts Queensland (YAQ), identifies and promotes excellence in artistic practice across a range of artforms. Through JUMP, young artists can accelerate their career by forming a mentoring relationship with a leading arts professional of their choice and becoming part of a diverse national network of over 150 young and emerging artists making their mark on the Australian arts industry.

Corrugated Iron is tremendously excited to be the Northern Territory Delivery Partner for JUMP; this national mentoring program will enable us to extend our reach to more young artists across the Territory, as well as champion the early career paths of NT JUMP participants on a national scale.