We are looking for volunteers to be part of Perth Festival!

About

In an Australian first, STRUT Dance and Perth Festival present Manifest by renowned Moroccan-Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

Bringing his creative vision to Perth, Cherkaoui‘s groundbreaking performance is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's principles of nonviolent resistance against injustice and discrimination. 

 

Volunteer

You can be part of this powerful new work that features 12 local dancers by volunteering as a member of a ‘silent choir’ of 50 volunteer performers. Volunteers will be asked to gather in Forrest Place as one of the world's most celebrated choreographers transforms the familiar through movement and sound.

Perth Festival welcomes volunteers of all ages, abilities and experience to become part of the piece by taking part in follow-along mass movements learnt on the evening of the performance. No professional dance experience is required, only a willingness to come together and unite in a performance protest for peace. 

As a volunteer in Manifest, you may be asked to:

• Move physically outdoors (traversing the space, playing with levels with your body (low to high), carrying light objects and arm movements).
• Stand or be static for periods of time.
• Chant.
• Play body percussion.
• Be in front of the public.
• Have physical contact with others.
• Climb stairs, if you are able.
• Stand on a slope, if you are able.

 

Volunteering process

1. Complete the sign-up form below.
2. Perth Festival will contact you late January 2025 to confirm your participation as a volunteer. If you want to check/edit your sign up in the meantime, please contact [email protected]    
3. You will be sent a reminder ahead of the performance with arrival instructions.
4. An hour prior to the performance, there will be a demonstration of some movements to perform. During the performance, there will be chorus leaders to guide volunteers through the movements in a mimicry or ‘follow the leader’ fashion.
5. You can choose how many performances you attend. Manifest runs over 3 nights, plus a dress rehearsal night, from 8 - 9pm each of the following nights:

• Mon 17 Feb (Dress Rehearsal)
• Tue 18 Feb
• Wed 19 Feb
• Thu 20 Feb

 

Free workshops

Volunteers may attend two free creative workshops. The workshops will go behind the scenes of the creative process and uncover more about Manifest and the work of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. 

Located at King Street Arts Centre, the workshop dates and times are:

• Sun 9 Feb, 10am-1pm
• Sun 16 Feb, 10am-1pm

We ask volunteers to please:

• Follow reasonable instructions of Perth Festival and STRUT Dance.
• Conduct themselves in a safe and respectful manner in the creative and collaborative environment.
• Wear sensible shoes.

Please find the terms and conditions here.