Australia Dancing - Newson, Lloyd (1954

Newson, Lloyd (1954 - )

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Lloyd Newson was born in Albury, New South Wales. In 1977 he transferred his academic studies from Monash University to Melbourne University, motivated by his desire to dance with Margaret Lasica’s Modern Dance Ensemble. Lasica's influence was pivotal to the development of Newson's dance career, particularly as he had no early formal dance training. During his involvement with the Modern Dance Ensemble he performed in works by the Ensemble’s dancer/choreographers as well as choreographing and ‘structuring’ a number of works, including Impasse (1977), Not-Me (1978), and Marmus (1979).

Newson graduated from Melbourne University in psychology and social work in 1978 and decided to pursue a career in dance. In 1979 he auditioned for Impulse Dance Theatre during this company's joint tour with the New Zealand Ballet. Newson then performed in a number of Impulse touring productions including Carmina Burana, as well as choreographing Anima (1979) for Impulse’s school program.

Returning to Sydney, Newson undertook classical dance classes with One Extra Dance before being invited to work as a guest artist with this company for London performances in 1980. He was then awarded a scholarship by the London School of Contemporary Dance for the school's one-year course. Following completion of this course, he joined Extemporary Dance Theatre in 1981 as a dancer and choreographer, remaining with this company until 1985. During his time with Extemporary Dance he worked with a wide range of choreographers, including Karole Armitage, Michael Clark, David Gordon, Daniel Larrieu and Dan Wagoner, and choreographed a number of works including Breaking Through (1983) and Beauty, Art and the Kitchen Sink (1984).

In 1986, along with an independent collective of dancers, Newson founded the project-based dance and physical theatre company DV8 Physical Theatre (Dance and Video 8). Led by Newson as director and choreographer, DV8 proceeded to establish a significant reputation as a physical theatre company.

Rejecting abstraction in dance, Newson has concentrated on exploring current social and psychological issues through movement, focusing particularly on sexual politics and gender stereotypes. Influenced by the theatricality of Pina Bausch, his choreographic process includes improvisation, and he frequently devises pieces with the collaboration of dancers and designers. Physical theatre stage and film works directed by Newson for DV8 have consistently received international awards and are listed on the company website (available as a link at the top of this page).

Newson has toured his company to Australia on three occasions. In 1996 DV8 performed Enter Achilles at Adelaide Festival. At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival the company performed Can we afford this and in 2008 returned to the Adelaide Festival with the film The Cost of Living and the dance theatre work To Be Straight With You. The Sydney Festival performance of Can we afford this featured a number of Australian performers including Roz Hervey, Paul Capsis, Jacob Lehrer, and Byron Perry. Other Australians who have been involved with DV8 include Kate Champion who worked with the company as rehearsal director and performer between 1992 and 2000 and Tanja Liedtke who performed with the company between 2003 and 2005.

Bibliography:

See the index of published interviews with Newson listed on the company website

Research Materials

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