a Samaya Wives film

Watch A CALL TO ARMS online at 7pm, Saturday 10th of February, AEDT.

In our efforts to make dance performance more accessible, DRILL is delighted to offer this online screening without fee or charge. If it is within your capacity to make a donation, big or small, please click the link below to donate to The Bob Brown Foundation so they can continue to advocate for and protect important places like takayna.

Thank you.

DONATE TO BOB BROWN FOUNDATION

Directed by: Pippa and Tara Samaya, The Samaya Wives
Choreographer: Tara Samaya and performers
Performers: Annie Burt, Erica Campbell-Graham, Zoe Chilcott, Tullia Chung-Tilley, Michelle Fielding, Catherine Grainger, Tara Samaya, Lizy Spanou AND Curtis Thorpe
Acknowledgement and Welcome: Sharnie Read
Videography AND Editing: Pippa Samaya

Field recordings: Pippa Samaya
Sound editing: Pippa Samaya
Music: Azul Feat Samuel Wexler by MOONTIDE
The Birds by MOONTIDE
The Holding by MOONTIDE

A collaboration between DRILL Performance Company Inc. and the Bob Brown Foundation, A CALL TO ARMS is a short dance film created by internationally regarded dance film makers Tara and Pippa Samaya - The Samaya Wives.

The film features eight local performers who were involved in the creation in January 2022, between studio practice in nipaluna/Hobart and filming on location within takayna/Tarkine. The rigor and commitment of the performers and the volunteers and staff from both organisations was enormous. Film requires a great level of flexibility and flow to work with the natural environment; the ability to adjust for different locations and to sit in discomfort to create the scenes and images to tell your story. It was a huge learning process for us an organisation, to learn how to safely and openly support and care for the people involved, while also managing the group integrity of doing what needs doing for the best project.

This project was unique for DRILL, engaging members of the public and specifically pitched as project for people of ages 18+, to act as a bridging project for older members of DRILL Senior Company to connect to creatives within their community.

Tara and Pippa are two highly regarded artists working in dance and the arts within Australia and internationally. It was an absolute privilege to host them in lutruwita/Tasmania, working alongside them to produce an incredible film, and to witness their generosity and gentle nature, through their focussed and expert dance film making process. Their ability to facilitate this bridging project, connecting all the participants equally, was formidable.

The film traverses the landscapes of takayna; from coastline to the deep ancient temperate rain forests, exploring through movement, the embodied effects of its landscapes and the sensation of its contrasting strength and fragility. A CALL TO ARMS is a statement made through the body and collective energy – to listen to and to protect these incredible places.

We are grateful to have partnered and worked closely with the Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) to have created and presented this film. Their support behind the scenes and on the ground during filming was integral to this dance film being made. We would also like to deeply thank Sharnie Read, palawa woman and Aboriginal Heritage Officer, who was our guide across the creation and filming period in January to ensure best practice to work considerately and carefully when on Country. We learnt a lot through this process and cannot thank her enough for her contributions and for the knowledge shared.

Thank you to all who watch this film, we hope that it moves you to take action where things truly matter.

To read more about the range and scale of the work the Bob Brown Foundation is doing visit their website HERE

To learn more about The Samaya Wives and see more of their work visit their website HERE

A CALL TO ARMS is assisted through Arts Tasmania and the Bob Brown Foundation.

PARTICIPANT reflection

‘What an amazing experience, it was so validating as an artist and a mature dancer to be a part of this project. There are limited options as a mature dancer so I am so appreciative of Drill for making space for a mature aged project.

To make a work that is Tasmanian based and focused was like an homage to my childhood. I feel it’s important to create works that have direct relevance to current social political issues and making a stand for the environment, and that’s what this work is. The range of age, experience and perspectives of the participants added to the experience. Movers, performers, artists and environmentalist. I feel blessed to be a part of their journey and that I now carry a part of their story with me.

Tara and Pippa, the Samaya Wives cultivated an in-depth practice across the first week in studio development that took us on a journey. In the studio Tara’s breadth of experience shone. As a dance practitioner a week felt like it wasn’t enough to marinate in her practice.

Our circle of sharing with Sharnie Read, was particularly one I will never forget. Sharnie brought Tasmania’s stories and land alive. As an educator I feel more empowered to take this experience back to the classroom and as a dance practitioner I feel inspired around the idea of sharing stories first and making space to listen to the land.

This is an experience I will treasure forever.’

Annie Burt - performer and participant