When memory becomes movement: THE FOLD pushes contemporary dance into new territory

Posted on 22 July, 2025

In a world where young dancers often flee Canberra for opportunities elsewhere, The Training Ground is quietly revolutionising what’s possible in our city’s cultural landscape.

This weekend, artistic directors Bonnie Neate and Suzy Piani present their most ambitious work yet – THE FOLD, a haunting exploration of memory, reality, and what happens when the fabric of existence itself becomes a weapon.

The dystopian narrative follows Esa, a young woman caught between life and death in a future where Earth has been transformed into industrial cotton farms overseen by a dictating Controller. When her mysterious double – The Proxy – appears, Esa embarks on a journey where the pieces of her story fall into place through memories and visions.

“The story came out of a discussion about stories of different realities, questioning what’s real and what’s memory,” explains Neate. “Esa’s journey reflects that universal human experience of navigating identity and existence when the familiar structures around us shift.”

The concept of The Proxy emerged as more than just a dramatic device. “The Proxy isn’t just Esa’s double; it is also her alternative existence and her suppressed memories,” says Piani.

“Through movement, and The Proxy we were able to choreographically move through past and present and show how our protagonist Esa begins to navigate her own path.”

Photography: Eliza Swiderski, ES-Fotografi

The choice of fabric as both setting and weapon carries deep metaphorical weight. “Fabric is fundamental to human civilisation – we’re literally wrapped in it from birth to death,” Neate observes.

“But in our narrative, this essential material becomes a tool of control and ultimately a weapon. When fabric becomes a weapon, it is the ultimate perversion of something meant to protect and comfort us.”

THE FOLD represents a synthesis of everything The Training Ground has learned since its inception in 2020. Their journey began with bold contemporary adaptations of classical ballets – Giselle became UNVEILED in 2021, Romeo & Juliet transformed into UNRAVEL in 2022, and Coppélia evolved into UNHINGED in 2023. Last year’s WIRED marked the company’s first completely original contemporary work, based on the true story of a man living within the walls of a family home.

“While our classical adaptations taught us about timeless storytelling and character development, and WIRED explored themes from a true and tragic story, THE FOLD pushes further into psychological territory,” explains Piani.

“We are using the discipline and structure we have learned from classical work but applying it to completely original movement vocabulary and narrative concepts.”

Photography: Eliza Swiderski, ES Fotografi

The choreographic challenge of translating abstract concepts like memory versus reality into movement required innovative approaches.

“Memory moves differently than present-moment reality,” Neate explains.

“Memory is fragmented, layered, sometimes sharp and sometimes blurred. We use repetition with variation – the same movement phrase might appear throughout the work but with different qualities, different spacing, different relationships to other dancers.”

The production continues The Training Ground’s signature integration of cinematic elements with live performance. Working again with the team from Cowboy Hat Films – Trent Houssenloge and Chris Curran – they’ve created animations and short films that serve as both backdrop and narrative device.

“Their animations and films work as a stunning and emotive backdrop to our production and an immersive and captivating experience,” says Piani.

What sets The Training Ground apart is their deeply collaborative approach to developing young performers. Their six-month intensive program goes far beyond technical training.

“We are not just teaching technique; we are developing complete performing artists,” explains Neate. “By the end, the program pushes them to a place they could not imagine themselves getting to.”

Photography: Eliza Swiderski, ES Fotografi

This collaborative philosophy extends to character development.

“With our principal characters like Esa, The Rival, and The Controller, we choreograph directly on the dancers themselves,” Piani reveals.

“The characters literally develop through the dancers’ movements. These discoveries in quality of movement and skills don’t just influence the movement; they actually refine and deepen the characterisation within our narrative.”

The impact extends beyond individual development. Since 2021, The Training Ground has won multiple Canberra Critics Circle Awards and Combined Area Theatre Awards, including Best Dance Production, Best Choreography, and Technical Achievement. More importantly, they’re proving that Canberra can nurture world-class contemporary dance talent.

“Canberra has incredible artistic talent, but young dancers often have to leave the city to find opportunities for professional development,” Neate reflects. “We’re creating those opportunities here. We’re proving that Canberra can be a destination for contemporary dance, not just a stepping stone to somewhere else.”

THE FOLD promises to challenge audiences as much as it challenges its young performers. In a production where fabric becomes unpredictable, where memory and reality blur, and where 15 local dancers embody the fragments of a fractured psyche, The Training Ground continues to push the boundaries of what contemporary dance can achieve.

Feature image by Eliza Swiderski from ES Fotografi.