Waves Are Disturbances
Waves Are Disturbances (you only see them when they break) is an iterative site-specific project that engages with the ocean, stories of coastal ecologies and the communities that surround them. We deploy the metaphor of the boundless ocean to explore how we navigate external forces larger than ourselves, delving into the tension between control and consent, and our relationship to the natural world.
This dance research project has been evolving since 2018, public outcomes include films, writing, workshops, talks and performances.
We invite audiences to consider the intricate relationships between movement and the interconnectedness of humans with their environment. This collaborative project fosters a message of collective action, empowerment, and the critical importance of consent, communication and collectivity in the face of the climate crisis.
Waves Are Disturbances is currently danced by Al Jefimenko, Siobhan McKenna, Alex Dobson and Valentina Emerald.
Most recently, Waves Are Disturbances was performed in response to Observation Point on Bunurong/Boon Wurrung country, presented by Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery for the Know My Name exhibition with support from Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. Zoë Bastin was the Artist in Residence at Police Point Shire Park for November, 2023.
We presented an iteration, How We Rise in response to Merricks Beach on Bunurong/Boon Wurrung country for Drift Festival at Silver leaf Art Box informed by five days of intensive development.
Waves has been previously supported by a Minimax Residency at Chunky Move, a Gun Powder Trading Post Residency, Wolumla NSW, Regional Residency for BLINDSIDE, Block Projects, the Emerging Choreographers Program at Dancehouse, Regional Arts Victoria, Arts Merri-Bek, the Centre for Projection Art at Collingwood Yards, Centre of Visual Art at Melbourne University, Green Monday Studio Residency, Out of Bounds presented by Lucy Guerin Inc and Temperance Hall, On The Table at Dancehouse, Silver Leaf Art Box, Drift Festival, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and Auspicious Arts.
Zoë Bastin acknowledges the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung, Yuin-Monaro Nations, Turrbal and Jagera, Wurundjeri, Yugambeh and Gunaikurnai owners of the country on which this project has taken place. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was always will be aboriginal land.
The term a breaking wave refers to the shape of its movement. Usually waves like the squiggly lines you see, when radio waves are illustrated, are a continual movement. Up and down in a curve. Rippling out endlessly. This happens under the water in the ocean too, but near the shore this pattern of movement literally brakes. It stops working. The surface becomes open creating the curved shape of the beach wave.
This seems like an appropriate way for describing feelings. As if something submerged, going on for a long time in perpetual movement rears it’s head above the surface at breaking point. The way you told me to be more like you. To jump in. To be dunked in the wave of your feelings. To swim in even though I saw the rip from the shore.
Waves is led by Lead Artist & Choreographer - Zoë Bastin, and includes Composer - Grace Ferguson, Dancers - Al Jefimenko, Siobhan McKenna, Alex Dobson and Valentina Emerald, Dramaturg - Philipa Rothfield, Advisor/Outside Eye - Helen Grogan of Open Practice Studio, Community Liaison - Penelope Gebhardt, Videographer - Willy Pleasance, Photographer - Tilly Parsons, Graphic Design - Hamish McIntosh.
Special thanks to Gidja Walker, Mornington Peninsula Surf Sisters, Danny Lacy and Noa Smith Fletcher.
Waves has been previously supported by a Regional Residency for BLINDSIDE, Block Projects, the Emerging Choreographers Program at Dancehouse, Regional Arts Victoria, Arts Merri-Bek, the Centre for Projection Art at Collingwood Yards, Centre of Visual Art at Melbourne University, Green Monday Studio Residency, Out of Bounds presented by Lucy Guerin Inc and Temperance Hall, On The Table at Dancehouse, Silver Leaf Art Box, Drift Festival, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and Auspicious Arts.