Fountain

FOUNTAIN explores the psycho-physical world of auditions through a queer interpretation of 1980s classics including Alan Parker’s FAME (1980) and Jane Fonda’s ‘Workout’ (1982). Exploring themes of repetition, trauma euphoria, exhaustion, endurance and fierce competition, dancers subject themselves to absurd, childish, and fantastical tasks. How far will they go? FOUNTAIN captures the aspirations, struggles, and triumphs of dancers seeking to gain a foothold in the ‘industry’ whilst holding onto a Utopian drive ‘to live forever’. Scored for prepared piano, theremin, bells and recorded retro synth pop, the soundscape evokes both an eerie cinematic atmosphere, and a manic Jane Fonda-esque aerobics class.

Credits

Director and Choreographer: Phillip Adams

Composer: Jordan Gilmour

Costume Designer: Isobel McCauley

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

Dramaturg: Cam Appleby

Lighting Designer: Andrew Thompson

Rehearsal Director: Sarah Ceraso and Bronte Paruit

Set Designer: Nethmi Oshadi Gunasekera

Sound Designer: Jett Manzie

Stage Manager: Yolanda Box

Assistant Stage Manager: Lucy Christiansen

Vision Designer: Amy Todd

Assistant Vision Designer: Lochlan Maher

Dates: June 5-11 2025

Location: The Stables - Art Studios, Octagon, Martyn Myer Arena (Building 873)

Presented by: RISING Festival and The University of Melbourne, Victorian College of the Arts