On Edge contemporary media + performance 09 presents
Bonemap ‘Whispering Limbs’

Performers:
Lisa Fa’alafi
Fez Fa’anana
Earl Rosas
Leah Shelton
Rebecca Youdell

Media, design and lighting: Russell Milledge
Sound: Steven Campbell
Technical Manager: Steve Barton
Technical assistance: Paul Barron, Steve Barton, Alex Cuffe

Biographies
The Bonemap project is a hybrid mesh of live art, visual art and new media framed by an overarching ecological philosophy. Bonemap’s hybridisation is a rupture that renders the cracks between artistic disciplines overt, revealing fluidity where we expect to find the static. A creative intermedia arts partnership between Russell Milledge and Rebecca Youdell, Bonemap often works in collaboration with other artists.

Russell Milledge focuses his practice around interdisciplinary collaborations and intercultural exchange. Russell has received awards across the fields of performing arts, new media and visual arts. Including the first Asialink interdisciplinary residency, a Silicon Studios Training Centre scholarship in 3D animation, Australian Network for Art & Technology summer school in multimedia and multiple awards from The Australia Council for the Arts New Media Arts Fund, Dance Fund and Visual Arts/Crafts Fund also from the Lee Foundation, Arts Queensland, Cairns City Council, Townsville City Council and Mareeba Shire Council. As a principal and collaborating artist Russell has contributed to many projects including presentations at: the Adelaide Fringe and Adelaide Festival, The Performance Space – Sydney as well as many site-specific and media based projects and partnerships. His visual art practice is represented in the collections of The Queensland Art Gallery and Cairns Regional Gallery amongst others. Russell has a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Queensland University of Technology, 2003 and was Deputy Director at KickArts from 2004-08. He is co-director of Bonemap, co-producer of On Edge and lectures in media arts at the JCU School of Creative Arts.

Choreographer and performer Rebecca Youdell has toured and performed work in the USA, UK, Scandinavia, Asia and Europe and received numerous awards both in Australia and overseas. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Rebecca studied movement in Australia, USA and UK attending the Royal Ballet School in London, and working with the Royal Swedish Ballet Company in Stockholm. Rebecca has diversified her practice to integrate media through collaborations with the Bureau of Meteorology and the use of medical diagnostic imaging technology, x-ray and ultrasound. Performance and movement language with/for the camera through video and photography. Multimedia web and sound based works linked with an understanding of media manipulation. A fellowship at The Australian Choreographic Centre; ANAT's Alchemy workshop; the first Asialink interdisciplinary residency hosted in Singapore (2001); TPS_01 and TPS_02; Several projects are archived on <bonemap.com>. BFA (dance) Butler University (USA, 1992). MA (Visual Performing Arts) Charles Sturt University (Australia, 1998). Rebecca is a co-director of Bonemap (1998 – 2009), co-producer of On Edge (2005-2009) and has worked in arts and cultural management for a multitude of organizations.

Earl Rosas is a local of Cairns. His grandparents hail from areas such as Tully, Hopevale, and the Atherton Tablelands. He is a descendant from the Yindinji nation on his father’s side and Gugu Yimithirr and Mbarbaram on his mother’s. He completed a 3 year Certificate in Dance and Theatre Related Skills at the Aboriginal Dance Theatre Redfern in 1995. He then commenced work with Darc Swan Dance Company, under the direction of Chris Jannides. Earl has also completed professional engagements with other companies such as Opera Australia Ballet Ensemble, Chunky Move, Vanessa Wagner and the Crystal Steps, Aboriginal and Islander Dance Theatre (NAISDA), Next Wave Festival, Playbox Theatre, and Snuff Puppets. In 2006, Earl was employed by Red Sky Performance based in Toronto, Canada for a period of 3 months. Within this time Red Sky was offered a residency at the Banff Arts Centre in Canada. Earl is currently employed with the 2 Spirits Programme at Queensland Association for Healthy Communities, as he has always held a keen interest in Health Promotion and the healthy well-being of Indigenous Australians.

Dr Steven Campbell's formal training is in music. He has performed extensively as a guitarist and on double bass, and as a composer has a focus on electronic and computer music. This focus has led to his development of a music technology system called PLaY+SPaCE, and the development of compositions specifically for this system. He is currently Director of Research and Postgraduate Studies in the School of Creative Arts at James Cook University where he teaches music technology, music theory and sound in new media.

Leah Shelton is an actor, dancer, performance-maker, choreographer and costume designer who works as a solo artist and as an artistic collaborator. Following tertiary level contemporary dance training, she trained in the Japanese Suzuki Actor Training Method for over a decade, performing and touring nationally and internationally with physical theatre company Frank Theatre (www.ozfrank.com). In 2003 Leah co-founded The Brides of Frank (www.thebridesoffrank.com), a tight dynamic ensemble of five females who create intense satirical performances incorporating sophisticated choreography with highly theatrical characterizations.
Leah is also a core member of performance ensemble Polytoxic (www.polytoxiclovesyou.com), who create entertaining high paced dance-theatre inspired by the traditions of the Pacific and the kitsch of pop-culture. Recently selected for the prestigious Management and Production Services (MAPS) initiative, in 2009 Polytoxic toured their full-length work Teuila Postcards nationally to venues including Sydney Opera House, Artshouse Melbourne, Ten Days on the Island Festival Tasmania, QPAC and Come Out Festival Adelaide and internationally to Wan Smolbag’s 20th Anniversary Theatre Festival, Vanuatu.

POLYTOXIC: Lisa Fa’alafi
When Lisa Fa’alafi graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts (Drama), she knew that she was not fit for a conventional theatre or dance company. She looked on TV and couldn’t find a Polynesian family on Neighbours and wondered how on earth she would ever fit her big islander feet into a pair of ballet shoes so she could be a “real dancer.” In 2000 Lisa along with lifelong friend Efeso Faanana formed Polytoxic Dance Company. Since then Lisa has gone onto help grow Polytoxic into a multifaceted company and pursued her role in both the independent Brisbane dance, theatre and cabaret scene as well as community and cultural development sector. Lisa has worked with the likes of choreographers Clare Dyson and Jean Tully, independent artists and collectives such as The Brides of Frank, PUNAKE, Blue King Brown, fashion designer Lindah Lepou and companies such as CIRCA, CONATCT INC, SPEAKOUT, AUSDANCE QLD and ONSTAGE ENTERTAINMENT. Lisa has collaborated to design costumes/sets for Polytoxic company shows and has been commissioned as designer for Strut and Fret Production House, CIRCA and corporate clients including IBM, IGA, Castrol Oil, Cirque De Soleil, BMW, Holiday Inn and ANZ Bank.

Efeso (Fez) Fa’anana
Coming from a solid Samoan-Australian upbringing, Fez grew up with a strong involvement in traditional Pacific performance, drama initiatives and hip hop dance groups. Fez has since developed his art practice as a performer, choreographer and performance maker spearheading dance, theatre, comedy and more recently circus. Since creating Polytoxic Dance Theatre Co. in 2000 and as a solo performer Fez has worked with Strut and Fret production house, Brisbane Powerhouse, Performance Space and has ongoing collaborations with various independent artists. His work has featured in Adelaide Fringe Festival, Sydney Festival, Melbourne Comedy Festival and Brisbane Cabaret Festival to name a few. His desire to contort through visual theatre, bent cabaret, contemporary circus and installation performance has shaped independent, diverse, dynamic and versatile work.

Acknowledgements
Volunteers: Beverley Mitchell Sherry Sue Hayes

Support generously received from: Queensland Government Cairns Regional Council James Cook Umiversity On Edge JUTE KickArts

Located in Cairns, Tropical North Queensland, Australia, On Edge contemporary media + performance 09, now in its 5th year, supports independent artists and producers with industry and audience development through a local, national and international context.

JUTE Theatre 96 Abbott St, Cairns
10, 11, 12 July 2009 at 9 pm