Technomad, Global Raving Countercultures by Graham St John

Technomad: Global Raving Countercultures by Graham St John (Equinox, 2009)

Technomad: Global Raving Countercultures is the most wide-ranging and detailed of all the books on rave. More than the study of a musical movement or genre, Technomad offers an alternate history of cultural politics since the 1960s, from hippies and Acid Tests through the sound systems and ‘vibe-tribes’ of the 1990s and beyond. Like Greil Marcus’s Lipstick Traces, Technomad makes unexpected but entirely convincing connections between people, movements and events. Like Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, St John’s book introduces us to unknown heroes, committed geniuses and genuine revolutionaries. Beautifully written, with a genuinely international perspective on electronic dance music culture, Technomad is one of the best books on music I’ve read in some time.”
Professor Will Straw, Department of Art History and Communication Studies, McGill University

Book description:
A cultural history of global electronic dance music countercultures, Technomad explores the pleasurable and activist trajectories of post-rave culture. The book documents an emerging network of techno-tribes, exploring their pleasure principles and cultural politics. Attending to sound system culture, electro-humanitarianism, secret sonic societies, teknivals and other gatherings, intentional parties, revitalisation movements and counter-colonial interventions, Technomad investigates how the dance party has been harnessed for transgressive and progressive ends – for manifold freedoms. Seeking freedom from moral prohibitions and standards, pleasure in rebellion, refuge from sexual and gender prejudice, exile from oppression, rupturing aesthetic boundaries, re-enchanting the world, reclaiming space, fighting for “the right to party,” and responding to a host of critical concerns, electronic dance music cultures are multivalent sites of resistance.

Drawing on extensive ethnographic, netographic and documentary research, Technomad details the post-rave trajectory through various local sites and global scenes, with each chapter attending to unique developments in the techno counterculture: e.g. Spiral Tribe, teknivals, psytrance, Burning Man, Reclaim the Streets, Earthdream. The book offers an original, nuanced theory of resistance to assist understanding of these developments. This cultural history of hitherto uncharted territory will be of interest to students of cultural, performance, music, media, and new social movement studies, along with enthusiasts of dance culture and popular politics.

Contents

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Take Off Your Skin (TOYS)

Take Off Your Skin (TOYS): A Replication Project
Produced by Melbourne Fringe + WELL Theatre + FULL TILT

Japanese dance artist Yasuko Kurono is a replication artist: she uses “clones” of herself to stage public-oriented dance performances [sounds quite trippy, huh]. Kurono, who has been engaged in events like these since 1999, wants Melbournites to join in one such viral performance event during the week prior to Friday 2 October:

“Be a part of TOYS – a large public art performance. Join 100 performers and 20 assistants as we take over the streets of inner city Melbourne for one afternoon. We’ll even dress and preen you for the occasion. All you need to bring is enthusiasm.

To join us:

1. Read the information here about the different performer and assistant roles.
2. Fill in the form to let us know which part you want to play.

Then we’ll let you know all the details shortly.

If you have any queries, contact Producer Kath Papas at Melbourne Fringe before you register phone 9660 9600 email kath@melbournefringe.com.au.”

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Critical Path: Choreographic Research Centre

“Critical Path is a choreographic research and development centre for dance artists in New South Wales, Australia. Based at The Drill, a large rehearsal space on the harbour in central Sydney, Critical Path’s program offers:

• Space and support for artists undertaking their own research

• Intensive laboratories and workshops facilitated by national and international artists

• Masterclasses with artists from dance and other disciplines

• Mentoring projects for choreographers to build new relationships with peers

• Discussion events and opportunities for artists to share practice and ideas.”

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Dancehouse presents Open Season

A season of multi-artform performances.

17 – 20 September, 2009

Curated by Dancehouse Artistic Director David Tyndall, Open Season brings together a four-day showcase of eight unique works by established and emerging Melbourne contemporary artists.

In June this year Dancehouse called for expressions of interest from artists of all disciplines – dancers, choreographers, writers, performance artists, musicians, animators or anything in between – for the opportunity to present their works as part of Open Season.

Eight distinctive and intriguing works have been selected and incorporated into two different programs running for two days each – Program A and Program B. Audiences will be treated to solo performers and groups, dance, 3D clay animation, wall paintings, physics, the sounds of birds, improvisation, paper bags, video projections, memories and of course, buckets.

Visit www.dancehouse.com.au

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I left my shoes on warm concrete and stood in the rain

Presented by Dancehouse this evocatively titled new work is Gabrielle Nankivell’s choreographic debut as a solo artist and an exciting entry to the Australian choreographic scene.

I left my shoes on warm concrete and stood in the rain is a performance that examines struggle as an inherent quality of being human. The audience is invited to experience intense physicality and haunting words framed by Benjamin Cisterne’s (Bluebottle) design and a striking soundtrack by Luke Smiles.

Harnessing the imagination as a physical force, I left my shoes on warm concrete and stood in the rain is a visual poem for anyone who has taken the enchanting qualities of their broken world and built a fairytale as inspiration to survive.

Gabrielle Nankivell belongs to a generation of international artists that are creating work across multiple countries. Originally from South Australia, Gabrielle Nankivell has returned from working in Europe with the likes of Ultima Vez/Wim Vandekeybus (Belgium), OX – with Jurij Konjar (Slovenia), Alexander Baervoets (Belgium), Aaben Dans/Thomas Eisenhardt (Denmark), Ballet Braunschweig (Germany), Thomas Steyaert (Belgium) and Raul Maia (Portugal). She has also worked in Australia with Garry Stewart’s Australian Dance Theatre.

Her goal is to ignite the imagination of audiences and create continuing avenues of dialogue on the topic of performance.

Venue: Dancehouse
Address: 150 Princes St, Carlton, Melbourne (Australia)
Dates: Wednesday 8 – Sunday 12 July
Time: Wed – Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm
Tickets: Phone/Door Full: $22 Conc: $18, Members: $15
Online: Full: $20 Conc: $16, Members: $12

Bookings: www.dancehouse.com.au or 03 9347 2860

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A game of love, war and telepathy…

Celebrating New Media Scotland’s 10th birthday with new work created and curated by Thomson & Craighead, Sarah Kettley and Distance Lab with new writing by Netwurker Mez and Hannu Rajaniemi, choreography by Sue Hawksley and music by Peter Gregson. The game itself begins eight days before with tales of two lovers told via the @mediascot

Twitter stream. The tweets will contain clues to find and enter a secret location in Scotland. Elements of the live event, and those online will help you solve the puzzles, with custom iPods to be won.
Play on.
alt-win.ning.com
crypticnights.org.uk
Tagged with:
Alt-w Cryptic Programme Attached Images

http://www.mediascot.org/alt-w/in.ning

Onsite: Thursday 2nd July 2009, 8pm. £5
CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD

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TANK MAN TANGO – A Tiananmen Square memorial

June 4 2009 is the 20th anniversary of the massacre of protestors at Tiananmen Square. You are invited to participate in a memorial made of dancing bodies in cities around the world.

On 4 June, forget to forget. Do the Tank Man Tango.

Sydney
Rehearsal of the steps choreographed from the footage of the man who defied the tanks in 1989.

6pm, 3 June 2009
Performance Space @ CarriageWorks – 245 Wilson St Redfern/Darlington, Sydney, Australia

Public memorial event: 4 June from 5pm, place TBA
Followed at 7pm by 649 exhibition at Serial Space, 33 Wellington St., Chippendale, NSW

Singapore
Tank Man Tango, The Substation, 45 Armenian Street, Singapore Thur 4 June at 8pm, The Substation Theatre: collective public performance of the Tank Man Tango

Fri 5 June, Substation Gallery, 11am–9pm: public art installation of paper statues of the “Goddess of Democracy”

Weimar events – hosted by ACC Galerie, Burgplatz 1+2, Weimar, Germany 4 June (Info TBA)

More cities around the world to participate. Forget to forget website.

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Swinging Tsunami – a molten wave of art, music, dance and culture

This is sure to be another fun night with live music, djs, burlesque dance, art, decked out party goers and all the usual fun and games of a Lava Rooms event.

Lava Rooms
Time: Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 8:00pm
Street: cnr Broadway and Wattle St, Ultimo, Sydney, Australia

Live music from …

The Belles
Meera Bell Thomson, Stephanie Acraman and Sacha Kilgour will treat you to a red-hot performance that will have you shouting for more. Combining a formidable background in jazz, cabaret and opera, these highly polished and gorgeous gals know a thing or two about faultless timing, rhythm and above all else, seamless harmony: delivering impeccable vocals with superb verve and style.

Dirty Lindy
Dirty Lindy play ‘40’s and early ‘50’s Swing and Jump Blues, influenced by the big band sounds of the ‘40s and early jump blues outfits with old school blues / funk and rockabilly.Put on your dancing shoes …..

Duke of Uke
Expect to be mesmorised by the Duke of Ukes catchy mix, strumminghis Uke and programming his beats, he is sure to get you dancing.

Burlesque dance
Lava Rooms welcomes Tasia to our stage for the first time. Tasia could dance before she could walk. Fascinated by the innocence of technicolour musicals, charmed by the innuendo of exotic Japanese cigarette girls of the 30’s and enchanted by the glamour of Hollywood Screen Sirens, Tasia was always destined to be under the spotlight.

Turn-table-ists
Lava rooms is very pleased to welcome back Limpin’ Jimmy and the Swinging Kitten. A stylish and professional couple who bring together the collective resources of a lifetime of musical appreciation – a formidable team and now Lava Rooms regulars. Jimmy and Margie will get you up and dancing with a smile on your face. Expect to dance to some Swing, some Rockabilly, a bit of Hawaiian and wherever the mood goes from there…..

Outernational Hi-Fi
Re emerging after a decade and a half mostly hibernating and the occasional festival gig…
out of the ashes of a reggae sound system in England’s south in the early 90s, OH-F mixed music from round the world into a dance floor bonanza. Will be taking a trip round the grooviest parts of the musical world starting and finishing in the Pacific….

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Radio Tonight: The Future’s Fun Show

Description: Radio Program, Saturdays 8-11 pm 88.5 FM (Sydney)
Featuring: Micaheal MD, Chris B, Alley Cat & Black + Guests

Weekly electrified shenanigans of Tech, Dub, Funky Shite, Post Rock, IDM and World Beats etc + special guest DJs and Producers.

Regular segements: Easy Being Green, Whats On, Odd News, Animal Act, Sport and what ever else tickles our fancy.

Radio Tonight is a magazine style program that pumps that 4 on the floor vibe and gets you wiggling your groove thang.

Contact Info
Email:  radiotonight@hotmail.com

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Teuila Postcards by Polytoxic Dance Company

“a contemporary cabaret of piss take, wicked comedy, theatre and dance… the narrative is clever, and the lines are funny…enjoyable and irreverent” Arts Hub

Perfect. Paradise. Polynesia: imagine a lush, green landscape surrounded by turquoise water with rolling white beaches dotted with bronzed, curvaceous women in coconut-shell bikinis. It all sounds too good to be true. And guess what…it is!

Acclaimed Australian contemporary dance ensemble Polytoxic returns to Sydney with its tongue-in-cheek look at the oppression and evolution of an island, Teuila Postcards.

Premiering to sold-out audiences at Brisbane Powerhouse in 2006, Teuila Postcards holds a satirical eye up to the cultural reality of modern day Polynesia to look behind the glossy tourist brochure facade.

This fusion of traditional Polynesian and contemporary dance theatre unveils the cultural reality of South Pacific island life. A fast-paced, episodic ride through the past and present, the show features historical missionary diary entries, an Elvis-inspired advert, a comedy floorshow and an insight into a Samoan girl’s experience of everyday life.

Mix in gorgeous, bright costumes and frame each image with a clever, ever-changing set, and you have Polytoxic’s holiday postcard from Samoa.

29 April – 2 May
The Studio at Sydney Opera House
Street: Macquarie Street
City/Town: Sydney, Australia

Teuila Postcards
by Polytoxic Dance Company
A Kultour Touring Event
Polytoxic Video: http://www.polytoxiclovesyou.com/video/video_2L.html

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