En Masse in St. Kilda
En Masse is a larger than life projection installation featuring the award-winning Rawcus Ensemble that explores bodies in public space and the shifting power dynamics of groups. What do we gain and what do we lose when we become part of the crowd? And what happens when you don’t easily fit in?
This short looped work is a collaboration between Rawcus, First Nations choreographer Amelia J O’Leary and videographer Michael Carmody. Through expressive, symbolic choreography individuality is asserted: the way one person moves is vastly different to the next. Rawcus performers appear and disappear in varying rhythms. Slowly a group hegemony emerges and claims space, dominating the frame, the building, the public space, but can the centre hold?
En Masse is a celebration of the power of the collective and a revolt against the perfectly synchronised chorus line.
When: May 13 – 25
Time: 6pm to midnight nightly
Where: St Kilda Library, 150 Carlisle Street
Cost: Free
Duration: 12 minutes
Cast and Creatives
Created and performed by the Rawcus Ensemble: Clem Baade, Swann Biguet, Michael Buxton, Rachel Edward, Nilgun Guven, Jorlene Lim, Joshua Lynzaat, Paul Matley, Mike McEvoy, Ryan New, Heath O’Loughlin, Kerryn Poke and Louise Riisik
Choreography: Amelia J O’Leary
Videographer: Michael Carmody
Costume Designer: Bianca Pardo
Scene Supervisor: Abby Hampton
Rawcus co-Artistic Directors: Katrina Cornwell and Morgan Rose
Rawcus General Manager: Jacque Robinson
En Masse is proudly supported by The City of Port Phillip’s Cultural Development Fund, The State Trustees Foundation and South Melbourne Community Chest.