Pluriverse

Diamond Rain

Diamond Rain is an intercultural and interdisciplinary choreographic collaboration between Javanese choreographer Wirastuti Susilaningtyas and Indigenous Australian dance artist Rheannan Port, featuring animation by media artist Christie Widiarto and sound composition by Monica Lim. The work draws inspiration from the natural phenomenon of diamond rain, weaving together Javanese and Indigenous Australian perspectives to explore spirituality, ritual, the cyclical nature of life and relationship to land, sky and sea.

Combining their understandings of ritual in this collaboration between Rheannan Port and Wirastuti (Tututtuty) Susilaningtyas, they found a harmony in representing perspectives on spirituality, ritual, and the cycle of life. Rheannan represents the cosmology of the universe, and Tututtuty will represent Javanese cosmology, particularly the earth (soil) in ritual ceremonies.

Javanese rituals are closely related to Javanese cosmology, which views the universe (macrocosm) as part of human existence (microcosm). Rituals aim to maintain harmony between humans and nature, for example through ceremonies honoring nature. One of the ideas and concepts they used in this collaboration is an agricultural ritual honoring Dewi Sri (the Goddess of Fertility).

Why the Goddess of Fertility? Because the Goddess of Fertility is believed by agrarian communities in Indonesia, particularly Java, Bali, and Sunda, to be the spirit that maintains the fertility of the land. In Java, Dewi Sri is believed to be the origin of the rice plant, a symbol of fertility, prosperity, and the mother of life. In short, Javanese rituals are an expression of the cosmological beliefs of agrarian communities, where ritual actions are designed to establish and maintain a good relationship between humans and the forces of the universe and spiritual forces.

Choreography
Rheannan Port and Wirastuti 'Tututtuty' Susilaningtyas

Dancers
Leyla Boz
Mia Canton
Sarah Ceraso
Grace Galimberti Espinoza
Natalie Hardy
Jesper Harrison
Kitana Price
Toni Stathopoulos
Ava Sugden
Cassidy Thomson

Rehearsal Director
Julie Minaai

Composer
Monica Lim

Set & Costume Designer
Rhianna Louise*

Lighting Designer
Samantha Martin*

Sound Designer
Kirsten Drake

Vision Designer
Madelaine Garwood*

Animation
Christie Widiarto

LE MIRACLE

This new work, commissioned by the Victorian College of the Arts, draws inspiration from the theme of the Circle of Life. It offers a universal approach to exploring notions of identity, heritage, and transience in relation to modern society. This contemporary dance performance intertwines ritual and the everyday, creating a dynamic interplay between past and present. At its core, the piece explores how ancestry and pop culture shape our identities, intertwining inherited traditions with the ever-changing landscape of popular influence. LE MIRACLE offers an extraordinary glimpse of reinvention, providing a unique insight into the diversity of life and belonging in a surreal place where reality collides with fantasy.

Choreography
Jill Crovisier

Dancers
Rikia Bell
Flynn Dakis
Belinda Hunt
Indi Mcqueen
Bronte Paruit
Natalie Trainor
Angelique Van Kempen
Isabel Walsh
Keely Wood-Hill

Rehearsal Director
Emma Riches, Rhys Ryan, and Julie Minaai

Irish Folkdance Advisor
Dr Jeanette Mollenhauer

Composers
Caoimhe Sian*and Jill Crovisier

Set and Costume Designer
Seah Lok*

Lighting Designer
Samantha Martin*

Sound Designer
Kirsten Drake

Vision Designer
Madelaine Garwood*

Made with the support of KulturLX Arts Council Luxembourg and the Ministry of Culture Luxembourg

Under Oath

Created with and for the 3rd year dance students of VCA, Under Oath explores the greek mythology of The Furies; ancient, powerful, terrifying figures who relentlessly pursue those who commit unforgivable crimes. Working with the body as a vessel that turns rage into rupture, pursuit into benevolence, Under Oath inhabits a speculative realm that reflects a world treading between wrath and justice.

WE ARE THE GHOSTS
WE ARE THE HUNTER
WE ARE THE GODS
WE ARE THE HUNGER

WE ARE THE ACID
WE ARE THE SMOKE
WE ARE THE EYES
WE ARE THE HOPE

WE ARE THE BLOOD
WE ARE THE RAGE
WE ARE THE FLESH
WE ARE THE PAIN

WE ARE THE RULE
WE ARE DESIRE
WE ARE THE BONES
WE ARE THE FIRE

FREE FREE FREE
- VCA Dance Company 2025

Choreography
Melanie Lane

Dancers
Rikia Bell
Leyla Boz
Mia Canton
Sarah Ceraso
Flynn Dakis
Grace Galimberti Espinoza
Natalie Hardy
Jesper Harrison
Belinda Hunt
Indi Mcqueen
Bronte Paruit
Kitana Price
Toni Stathopoulos
Ava Sugden
Cassidy Thomson
Natalie Trainor
Angelique Van Kempen
Isabel Walsh
Keely Wood-Hill

Rehearsal Directors
Tyrel Dulvarie and Julie Minaai

Associate Artist
Adena Jacobs

Set and Costume Designer 
David Wotherspoon^

Lighting Designer
Samantha Martin*

Sound Designer
Kirsten Drake

Vision Designer
Madelaine Garwood*

Music
'Fivo' (2014 Remaster) by Surgeon
'Spiral Loop' by Daystar
'Heu Mihi Domine, Passeggiato Per la Viola' by Concerto Soave & Jean-Marc Aymes
'Riser Beam Connection' by Scanner
'Base Plate' by Scanner
'Urgent Jell Hack' by Clark
'Gnossienne no.1' by Erik Satie, performed by Monica Lim

PRODUCTION TEAM

Stage Managers
Stefan Jarosz-Setiawan and Peter Liptai

Assistant Production Manager & Head Electrician
Marcus Lew*

Deputy Electrician, Lighting Programmer & Operator
Ella DeCorrado

Vision Technician
Kirsten Drake

Costume Manager
Ava Koniaras

Costume Assistants
Lucy Brownlie and Bilan Faarax

*Third year Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production) student
^Second Year Master of Design and Production student

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Artistic Operations Manager
Abe Watson

Producer
Ang Cuy

Production Coordinator
Tia Wojcik

Stagecraft Project Coordinator
Alan (Alby) Logan

Props and Scenic Supervisor
El Lyons-Dawson

Set Construction Supervisor
Taylor Chen

Set and Prop Technician
Al Brill

Props and Scenic Technician
Nellie Summerfield

Scenic Artist
Morgan Jones

Production Mechanists
Mungo Mckenzie
Em Van Dyk
Tait Adams

Costume Supervisor
Elizabeth Maisey

Assistant Costume Supervisor
Mikailah Looker

Costumier
Ingrid Beilharz

Audio Engineer
Justin Gardam

Production Photographer
Gregory Lorenzutti

Videographer
NON Studio

ACADEMIC STAFF

Head of Dance
Carol Brown

Head of Design and Production
Anna Cordingley

Dance Subject Coordinator
Julie Minaai

Design and Production Course Coordinator
Lisa Osborn

Master of Design and Production Course Coordinator
Jo Briscoe

Design and Production Subject Coordinator
Matt Scott

Master of Design and Production Subject Coordinator
Leon Salom

Design and Production Academic Consultants
Harrison Cope, Peter Darby, Rosalind Hall, Blair Hart, and Frankie Van Kan

Dance Academic Staff
Megan Beckwith, Gareth Belling, Carol Brown, Derrick Brown-Appenzeller, Nicole Corea, Julie Minaai, Rheannan Port, Kialea-Nadine Williams

Design and Production Academic Staff
Anna Cordingley, Kris Bird, Jo Briscoe, Dr Peter Burke, Dr Danny Butt, Marco Cher-Gibard, Dr Emily Collett, Martyn Coutts, Narelle Desmond, Ela Egidy, Jo Evans, Dale Ferguson, John Ford, Nell Hanson, Amanda Hitten, Anna Hoyle, Lisa Mibus, Amanda Morgan, Lisa Osborn, Richard Roberts, Leon Salom, Marion Schaberl, Matt Scott, David Shea, Christina Smith, Darren Wardle, John Warwicker-Le Breton and Jethro Woodward

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