Bundanon

Grace is a classically trained pianist, composer and educator based at Eastmint Studios in Naarm/Melbourne.

Exploring the tension between improvised and composed material, her poetic works consider the dynamics embedded in musical narrative by interlacing traditional structures with interruptions and contradictions; evoking how external forces, memory and subliminal truths often disturb linear progression and lead to unexpected interconnections.

Grace has performed original works at the Melbourne Recital Centre, improvised live as part of MIUC ensembles, adapted her music for outdoor festival settings, and independently staged unique shows that incorporate conceptual sets or moving, visual imagery with music.

In recent years, she has contributed to numerous works for theatre, dance and film and was awarded by the Sydney Critic Theatre Awards, Best Composition for a Main Stage Production for On the Beach (STC). In 2024 she looks forwards to exploring her practice as an artist in residence at La Cité internationale des arts in Paris, supported by Creative Australia.

Zoë Bastin is an artist who works with dance and choreography to dream up speculative queer worlds.

As an artist deeply invested in building community she often writes, curates projects, runs public programs and works as an academic, alongside leading projects with lots of collaborators. Bastin’s focus on choreography explores its connection to architecture and the atmospheric conditions of space, resulting in transformative environments.

Zoë recently founded her own name sake company Zoë Bastin Dance, that champions diversity, queer representation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Her projects have been supported and presented at Abbotsford Convent, Chunky Move, Counihan Gallery, Dancehouse, Deakin University Art Gallery, Mornington Peninsula Regional Art Gallery, Midsumma Festival, School Of Art and Design Gallery Australian National University, SUBSTATION, Temperance Hall, Villa Lena Art Fondazione Tuscany Italy and West Space among others.

In Residence at Bundanon

Grace Ferguson and Zoë Bastin embark on a unique exploration of music and movement at Bundanon. Collaborating since 2020, they push boundaries in live sound and improvised choreography, aiming to redefine the intersection of dance and music.

This residency offers a deep dive into their combined methodology, focusing on improvisation without predetermined outcomes. They delve into the rich history of artistic experimentation at Bundanon to inspire their composer-dance maker collaboration and reflect on their artistic processes. Their goal is to create attunement between the dancers and musicians they work with, avoiding one discipline’s dominance. They seek innovative ways to present improvised dance and music for contemporary audiences, shaping cultural narratives through their innovative language.