Present Tense

About Project

Present Tense was a contemporary dance work created with and performed by seniors from Cardinia Shire. Engaging seniors with no dance background, a median age of 80, and living in a metro regional location, the work was developed over twenty workshops, the project explored contemporary dance as a form of expression for older bodies — not as a recollection of dance from the past, but as a living and evolving practice in the present. Present Tense,

Participants generated movement material that was developed by Özer into a 20-minute contemporary dance work combining live performance and video projection. Four participants performed live, while other members of the cohort contributed through video.

Impact

Present Tense challenged assumptions about who contemporary dance is for and positioned older people as contemporary artists, performers, and cultural contributors. The project created opportunities for participants to be seen, valued, and creatively expressive while contributing to the cultural life of their local community.

Testimonial

You smashed that out of the ballpark - amazing

- Co-ordinator, Arts & Creative Industries | Cardinia Shire Council

“I see a lot of contemporary dance shows, but it is not often that they are so moving. This was so moving, I was actually crying”

- Audience Member

Location: Koo Wee Rup / Cardinia Shire, Victoria

Date: 2019

Artists: Project Manager / Lead Artist, Choreographer & Facilitator — Gülşen Özer;

Video Artists — Vanessa White and Tim Stone;

Sound Designer — Roderick Price

Collaborators: Twelve local senior participants

Organisations / Partners: Cardinia Shire Council; Creative Victoria