Dance is often described as a universal language, and in Echo, that language is spoken with remarkable energy, curiosity and conviction. Now in its eighth year, Australasian Dance Collective’s Youth Ensemble celebrates movement as a conversation between artists, generations and communities.
Featuring performers aged 14 to 19, the Ensemble brings together young dancers at a pivotal stage in their artistic development. Guided by Courtney Scheu, they are joined this year by The Movement Lab GC for a four-part journey that highlights both emerging talent and the power of collaboration.
The evening opens with Notes for Radical Living, conceived, directed and choreographed by ADC Company Artist Lilly King. Performed by the Youth Ensemble and inspired by the poem of the same name by Tilda Swinton, the piece explores freedom, presence and the desire to hold onto fleeting moments.
King combines movement with breath, vocalisation and spoken word to create a compelling expression of youthful curiosity and individuality. Her vibrant costume designs ensure each dancer maintains a distinct identity while contributing to the collective energy of the ensemble. The driving rock soundtrack, notably Locked Shut’s Me vs A Brick Wall, injects the work with urgency and momentum.
A shift in tone arrives when the dancers gather to recite Swinton’s poem, each taking a turn with the microphone while Gabrielle Jackson delivers a captivating guitar solo. Jackson proves a magnetic presence throughout the evening, repeatedly drawing the audience’s focus.
Swinton’s words linger. “Respect the young,” “treasure learning” and “dance daily” are among the affirmations that resonate. They encourage reflection while celebrating the possibilities of a life lived with openness and intention.
A change of scale follows with Before Thought Arrives. A haunting solo, performed by Charlotte White, is conceived, directed and choreographed by Riannon McLean of The Movement Lab GC.
White commands the stage with quiet intensity, her movements unfolding with a sense of fragility and reflection. Bryce Delany’s lighting design proves particularly effective. An upstage spotlight carves striking images that both frame and amplify the emotional weight of the choreography.
Set to Earnestly Yours featuring Ren Ford by Keaton, the piece is steeped in melancholy. The music and movement work in tandem to evoke the persistence of memory. They suggest how moments from the past continue to reside within the body long after they have passed. White’s measured and expressive performance captures this tension beautifully. The result is intimate and affecting.
Perhaps the standout piece of the evening is Relic, a reimagined excerpt from Jack Lister’s work first presented as part of ADC’s 2025 season. Drawing on the fearless culture of motocross, Relic examines mortality, fragility, youth and the enduring human spirit through athletic and expressive movement.
Driven by Louis Frere-Harvey’s pulsing score, the piece crackles with energy and urgency. The Youth Ensemble dancers attack the choreography with commitment and fearlessness, creating exhilarating moments. Bryce Delany’s lighting design is particularly striking, with washes of red heightening the work’s intensity and lending it an almost mythic quality.
Daring and dramatic, Relic leaves a lasting impression, and, at just a glimpse of the larger work, is over far too soon.
After a short intermission comes the evening’s most ambitious collaboration, Joyful Flight. Co-directed and choreographed by Courtney Scheu and Riannon McLean, it is performed by dancers from ADC’s Youth Ensemble and The Movement Lab GC.
Spanning six pieces of music and bringing together 27 young performers, the work inhabits the space between memory and lived experience. Themes of nostalgia, remembrance and release weave through the choreography as moments are revisited, softened and ultimately allowed to drift away.
Scheu and McLean’s costume design is particularly effective. Bright red socks paired with navy balloon skirts and a mix of pale blue and white shirts create a striking visual palette. From a distance, the socks appear almost illuminated, blurring the line between costume and lighting design and adding an extra layer of visual intrigue.
Most impressive, however, is the sense of unity achieved across such a large ensemble. The collaboration between the two organisations feels genuine rather than symbolic. The dancers move as a cohesive whole while still allowing individual personalities to emerge. It serves as a fitting culmination to an evening dedicated to artistic exchange, shared creativity and the next generation of dance artists.
At its heart, Echo is a celebration of growth, connection and creative possibility. Through four distinct works, the program showcases emerging artists who are already demonstrating impressive technical skill and artistic maturity.
Australasian Dance Collective’s commitment to nurturing young talent continues to bear fruit, resulting in an evening that is both engaging in the present and promising for the future.
Echo is presented by Australasian Dance Collective’s Youth Ensemble and The Movement Lab GC. The season runs from 19 – 20 June 2026 at Judith Wright Centre for Contemporary Arts. 420 Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley Qld 4006.
Tickets: https://australasiandancecollective.com/performances/2026/echo-2026
Website: https://australasiandancecollective.com/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/australasiandancecollective/ and https://www.instagram.com/themovementlabgc/
Photo credits: Jade Ellis
