Summer Soirée with
Louise Deleur 

A fusion of artistic mediums including dance, art and live music is the basis for the glamorous Summer Soirée. As we prepare for this highly anticipated production, we sat down with Queensland Ballet Academy's Head of Contemporary Dance and Resident Choreographer Louise Deleur to discuss inspiration, collaborations, and the creative processes behind her new work for the upcoming December season.  

You’re choreographing a piece for the upcoming season of Summer Soirée, what artworks of Tim Storrier’s have you chosen and why?  

I have chosen the works The Arcadian Repose (2015-16)* and Pastoral Domestic (The Viewer) (2014)* as I was inspired by the chair and how it invoked a story to be told.  In the series of works where the chair is featured, I then took inspiration from Arcadian Repose (2015-16)*  and all the materials/rubbish around the chair. I was also inspired when talking to Tim about the works and how there were references to his trips to the rubbish tip as a child and how I related to this from my own childhood.  

You’re translating Storrier’s artwork into movement, what does this creative process look like for you? How does it start?  

After choosing a painting that invoked a connection to me and talking with Tim, I started to formulate a concept for the work. I came across a story on how polluted our rainwater has become and this consolidated a theme and emotional framework for me. I still had images in mind of how I wanted the work to look, so as I was creating, I was seeing how those images would work into the story and composition. Music is where I often start, however this time it was the second last component. As I write, I am still wondering how the images in my head and the reality of staging will play out. Movement wise I work with the music, emotion and what the character is being or wanting to say and draw my movement from that.   

Summer Soirée is a collaboration across different mediums: dance, art, music, and technology - how has this influenced your choreography?  

I’m not sure it has influenced my choreography regarding movement creation; however, it does influence the staging and how you approach things visually as well as maintain respect for all artists involved.  

Summer Soirée is an invaluable experience for the Queensland Ballet Academy students - how have the rehearsals been? Are they excited to showcase your piece and Storrier’s artwork?   

With last year’s Summer Soirée being such a huge success, we are all very excited (I’m maybe a little nervous) to be involved. It’s a wonderful privilege to work with such amazing artists including our dancers who are so professional and creative in their approach. It’s such an impressive calibre of people to work with, including having live music with Camerata and our production team. Who wouldn’t be excited!?  

Is there something you want audiences to take away when watching your piece?  

To be touched or moved in a positive way.   

What can we expect from Summer Soirée in 2022?  

A wonderful collaboration of professional artists coming together to create inspiration.   

Artistically stimulating and exclusively chic, Summer Soiree is set to be a sophisticated evening combing dance, art and music. 8 – 10 December, Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre. Find out more information here.

 By Meg Collins