About

Paradise is a re-proposal of previous work Pacific by Phillip Adams BalletLab Artistic Director, Phillip Adams made for Brazilian Ballet Company, Companhia de Ballet da Cidade de Niterói in 2016. For Paradise, Adams has transferred this work onto the 20 young dancers of Yellow Wheel.

Inspired by childhood memories growing up in Papua New Guinea, 60s and 70s television and the cultural and social influences of making the original work in Niteroi, Brazil, Paradise evokes a world of imagined ceremony, pageantry and procession all expressed through an original and vibrant choreography adapted for an Australian setting. The work pays homage to a variety of influences spanning a number of decades and across multiple continents creating a celebratory new dance work performed to classical music by Richard Strauss.  

Paradise was presented as part of Melbourne Fringe's fantastic XS Program.

→ Download the program here [PDF]

Paradise was generously supported by the Besen Family Foundation, City of Port Phillip’s Local Festivals Fund and Creative Victoria. This project is also supported through generous sponsorship from Spacecraft Studio.

Photos by Gregory Lorenzutti.

Credits

Concept, Choreography & Direction
Phillip Adams

Photography & Collaborating Artist
Gregory Lorenzutti

Collaborating Artist
Mikala Dwyer

Cast
Abby Reynolds, Abi Benham-Bannon, Anna Tolotchkov, Bonnie Sampson, Claudia Willimann, Cora Hughes, Eiren Chamley, Elly Tew, Emily Laursen, Gorran Katinic, Luke Romero, Maddi Cushion, Natalie Kwan, Patrick O’Luanaigh, Pippa McEwen, Rachel Owens, Ruby Denittis, Shani Glenn-Ward, Siobhan Henderson and Walter Wolffs.

Set Collaboration & Realisation
Spacecraft Studio

Light Realisation & Technical Manager
Matthew Adey

Costume Realisation
Amanda Loschiavo

Score
Richard Strauss Tod und Verklärung Op 24

BalletLab Executive Producer
Kristy Ayre

BalletLab Associate Producer
Kristina Arnott

Yellow Wheel Artistic Director
Adam Wheeler

Yellow Wheel Company Manager
Joshua Lowe

Yellow Wheel Artistic Associate
Kyall Shanks