About

QUARK was originally presented as Yellow Wheel’s major season in 2016, and was choreographed by Adam Wheeler and Kyall Shanks, in collaboration with a cast of 23 young dancers. With co-choreographer Adam Wheeler having a strong relationship with the community in Alice Springs, Yellow Wheel decided to bring QUARK to the NT as our major season for 2019.

QUARK explores our human need to connect with each other, and how many things, including social media, threaten these connections. Quarks are the smallest known layer of matter in the Universe, and when pulled apart their bond becomes both stronger and more strained, until it snaps and new quark pairs are created. Just like us, the elementary particles in every cell of our bodies can never exist in isolation.

Viewed from all four sides, it’s as if the work is being examined under a microscope by the audience. Featuring intricate and quiet duos juxtaposed against a heaving mass of bodies, QUARK is both visually impressive and strangely moving.

As part of the tour Yellow Wheel performed and gave workshops to Sadadeen Primary School and Centralian Middle School, and after the season undertook a three day camping trip to Uluru, Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta.

→ Download the program here [PDF]

QUARK 2016 was supported by funding from Creative Victoria. It was supported by Chunky Move through their motion tracking technology and the assistance of their staff, in particular Michael Carr.

QUARK 2019 was supported by The Desert Festival, Red Hot Arts, Guts Dance and Alice Lodge Backpackers.

Yellow Wheel is housed and supported by Lucy Guerin Inc/WXYZ Studios and we thank them for their mentorship and making us feel at home as what we do would not be possible without this support.

QUARK Photos by Adam Wheeler.
Tour Photos by Kyall Shanks.

Credits

Concept, Choreography & Direction
Kyall Shanks and Adam Wheeler

Tour Coordinator
Joshua Lowe

Tour Mum
Nina Sampson

Cast
Abby Reynolds, Abigail Benham-Bannon, Alannah May, Bonnie Sampson, Cassie East, Dominique Cowden, Eiren Chamley, Kathryn Riddoch, Maddi Cushion, Natalie Kwan, Nuala Rooney, Phillipa Chapman, Pippa McEwen, Rachel Mackie, Rachel Owens and Siobhan Henderson.

Lighting Designer/Operator
Graeme Whelan

Costume Designer
Bec Jensen

Sound Designer
Duane Morrison

Yellow Wheel Artistic Director
Joshua Lowe

Yellow Wheel Associate Director
Kyall Shanks