Media and Press
Daring, Bold, Provocative
Performing Arts News from Bonnie Curtis Projects
Building a reputation as one of the most provocative, forward-thinking dance companies, Bonnie Curtis Projects creates gutsy, insightful works of performance art.
Our distinct, interactive choreographic style is raw and confronting.
We push beyond gestures and movement, engaging audiences in critical issues such as gender norms, sexuality, women’s rights, and the human condition.
We go where no others dare to go.
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“Outrageous, comedic and thought-provoking”
– Sydney Arts Guide
“Hard-hitting… deliciously disorientating, and slightly overwhelming”
– Mr Kate Goes To The Theatre
“Best show I’ve seen in a long time”
– Audience Member
Inclusive Arts: Challenging stereotypes as a woman with disability through dance
Choreographed and performed by Bonnie Curtis, Limits wrenches audiences into the world of a grotesque creature struggling against her inner limitations and societal expectations. Bonnie draws on her own experiences with invisible disability and functional impairment to create a powerful performance that shows how quickly we judge the exterior.
Audiences are asked to confront how visible disability challenges our ideas of beauty as it plays out on stage. Sabotaged by her internal limitations, audiences experience the manifestation of her insecurity and self-hate.
For Bonnie, making the performance accessible to people with disability was about empowering them to take part in the conversation. She has personal experience with how these perceptions can impact and harm people.
“There’s this idea that dancers can’t have a disability because they can’t dance, and to be a woman with a disability is to be some kind of hideous creature. Unfeminine. Unwomanly. That’s the idea behind making the work (Limits). To express the other side that people don’t see at first glance.”
Experience an accessible, private viewing of Limits (on-demand) now.
Media Enquiries and Comments
Audio Described Promotional video features snippets of Bonnie Curtis performing in front of a live audience at the Flying Nun. We see her internal struggles manifest through her dance performance.
Credits
● Choreographed and Performed by Bonnie Curtis
● Mentored by Kay Armstrong
● Sound Design by Fiona Lloyd Harding
● Dramaturgy by Nell Ranney
● Lighting Design by Lucia Haddad
● Photography Credit: David Vagg
Bio
Bonnie Curtis (she/her) is the Artistic Director of Bonnie Curtis Projects.
She is a producer, director, choreographer and performer in works for film, installation and live performance.
Her creations and collaborations have appeared at ImPulsTanz, Museum Moderner Kunst (AT), Girona Film Festival (ES), Quadstock Music Festival (US), CinéWomen|Womenartconnect (EU), Asia International Youth Short Film Exhibition (CN), NZ Fringe, Biennale of Sydney, Sydney World Film Festival, and Sydney Fringe Festival (AU), among others.
Most recently, Bonnie has been selected for the ATLAS Program for Choreographers at ImPulsTanz Dance Festival in Austria, 2021.
Stats
● Research shows the importance of online accessibility for disabled audiences.
● More Australians with disability creatively participate in the arts (61%) than people without disability (41%)
‘Connecting Australians’ survey, Australia Council for the Arts, 2017
While current lockdowns have shut down access across much of New South Wales and Victoria, the data (Pattern Makers, March 2021) says
● people with disability are less comfortable attending in-person events (35%, compared with 50%)
● disabled audiences are more likely to participate online (57%, compared to 46%), and
● online events are preferred format for disabled audience (19%, compared to 8%).
Yet, accessibility challenges online are a common barrier for attendance.
Imagery
Photography Credit (L-R): © David Bonnell, David Vagg, Coti Cibils, Coti Cibils, David Bonnell, Coti Cibils, 2021
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Subverting The Body Beautiful
“4/5 smashed barbies”
– Theatre Now
“Engaging, funny, dangerous”
– Audience member
This project is supported by Brand X, NSW Government, Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, Regional Arts Australia, Regional NSW. The Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund is provided through Regional Arts Australia and administered by Regional Arts NSW, Annandale Creative Arts Centre, Arts on Tour with the NSW Government through Create NSW as part of Arts Restart, Critical Path, DirtyFeet, March Dance and BCP Patreon Supporters.