Perth Voice Interactive

AUDIENCE heckling isn’t usually encouraged, but at Kiss Club it’s expected, albeit in a gentle, nurturing way.

“The artists are there for the feedback, and the audience acknowledges it’s very brave to put your work out there,” CIA Studio, (Centre for Interdisciplinary Arts) special ops Finn O’Branagain says.

This is Kiss Club’s fifth year and it’s an all-ladies line up, with a mix of dance, physical theatre, performance art, and the mysteriously named “social experiments”.

The plan hadn’t been for a women-only show, but female applicants swept the board with their imaginative presentations, Ms O’Branagain says.

In 10-minute shows, seven acts will explore a sweep of themes including hoarding, selfies, parades and gender.

Each is a snippet of a larger show the artists hope, once honed, will get a guernsey at PICA or the holiest-of-holy experimental theatre, the Fringe Festival.

“They show the trickiest bit they need feedback on,” Ms O’Branagain says.

In Tiny Parades CIA Studio’s artists-in-residence Renae Coles and Anna Dunnill are two lone paraders “passionately championing ambiguous causes” on the streets.

Hellen Russo uses physical performance to explore compulsive hoarding: “[And] the attaching of meaning to objects even though they don’t have use for us any more,” Ms O’Branagain says.

Meredith Godley does more than ask for feedback, she invites her audience backstage to find out more about “selfies”.

Kathleen Szalay uses dance in a light graffiti treasure hunt and Sophia Natale looks at how a female dancer can present herself on stage as a male.

CIA’s new “house band” Blackwall Reach has written music for each mini-show and will play a 10 minute gig of their original music as a finale.

For aspiring artists/performers applying for Kiss Club is as simple as checking out the Facebook page.

“[And] describing your dream for a show [beyond] Kiss Club,” Ms O’Branagain says.

Partly government funded through the Department of Culture and the Arts, CIA offers residencies, technical and dramaturgical support (help shaping a script) and some financial help for Perth’s aspiring artists.

Kiss Club is on at CIA Studios 480 Newcastle Street, West Perth Friday April 17. Tix $10 at the door.

by JENNY D’ANGER

Learn how to bellydance
Learn the secrets of Bellydance and have some hip shaking fun! Bellydance or Oriental dance (the correct name), is often said to be the oldest form of dance, having roots in many cultures from the Orient to India and the Near, Far and Mid East.
Bellydance Central is a Perth based Australian organisation dedicated to the art of Oriental dance. With over 20 years of performance and teaching experience it offers specialist classes at all levels in Bellydance, Mums & Little Ones, Tribal Style Bellydance, Children’s Bellydance, Wise Women Wellness and Birth Dancing, as well as a uniquely designed beginners programme.
Learn to bellydance in a friendly relaxed environment in a beautifully designed Moroccan style studio with dedicated teachers trained to give you an amazing and memorable bellydance experience. Come to the free classes on Friday 17th April. Term 2 classes from absolute beginners to professional levels start on Monday, 20th of April. Classes now also available in Bassendean & Ellenbrook!
For free class and term course info contact Bellydance Central:
http://www.bellydancecentral.com.au
Mobile 0488 983 082 or 0448 322 533
Phone 6296 5629
Email dance@bellydancecentral.com.au

Get ready for combat
Combat Arts Institute of Australia (CAIA) in Leederville is the only place in Perth where you can train multiple martial arts like Krav Maga, Japanese Jujutsu, Sword and Stick, BJJ, Yoga, MMA and a variety of fun fitness classes – all in the same location with internationally accredited instructors who are experts in their fields. Starting in May, there will be classes for Fitness Kick-Boxing from 6:00am, along with Yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00am. CAIA has an open, friendly atmosphere and classes for all levels.
Until May 31st, CAIA is offering a full week of unlimited classes for only $20. Classes for adults are on 6 days a week, and Kids classes are on Tues, Thurs and Saturdays.
Combat Arts Institute of Australia
341 Oxford Street in Leederville
Plenty ofstreet parking available
Phone 9389 9489
http://www.caia.com.au for more info.

Stop at the Station
After more than 30 years as a classroom teacher, Penny decided she was ready to take her knowledge and understanding of children into a new direction. Inglewood Station began with the concept of creating an out of school hours care centre which was more like coming home, or going to a grandparent’s house.
With the advent of more results driven education, it was decided to include tuition to the centre. It has now grown to include a Pre Kindy program with a focus on developing coordination skills and strong foundations in language.
Situated in a converted 1940s house, Inglewood Station provides a bright and homely environment where children will feel secure, supported in their individual learning journeys by caring and experienced staff.
The Station is currently available for tuition and taking enrolments for OSHC and Pre Kindy throughout the holidays.
Call Penny on 0439 930 299
Email theinglewoodstation@outlook.com

A PLAQUE belatedly honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander war veterans will not be affixed to the Maylands memorial in time for this year’s ANZAC centenary commemorations.

Bayswater council had been asked to organise the plaque last April.

Mayor Sylvan Albert says the delay was due to extensive consultation with Aboriginal stakeholders and veterans.

“The feedback received is that this interactive process and great involvement during every stage was highly appreciated,” he says.

“It ensured that the commemorative plaque is respectful, appropriate and has the full support of all.”

The plaque is the brainchild of 80-year-old Pam Gaunt, the treasurer of Maylands Historical Society for more than 20 years. It will now be unveiled in a ceremony on July 6 during NAIDOC week.

“I had read several books on Australian servicemen and was always concerned about the lack of recognition given to Aboriginal men who had served Australia with great courage during many wars,” Ms Gaunt says.

“They fought as equals but did not receive equal pay or other privileges on their return home.

“With this year marking the 100th anniversary of ANZAC I thought it would be an appropriate time to finally recognise their unsung contribution.”

Maylands Labor MP Lisa Baker wrote last April to the council on Ms Gaunt’s behalf to request the plaque.

She is delighted it is going ahead, but wishes it could have been organised in time for the ANZAC centenary commemorations.

“I think the council have been a bit tardy and it would have been better if the plaque had been unveiled in April,” she says. “It would have been far more appropriate.”

Her views are backed up by Ms Gaunt’s husband Terry, a former MHS president who says the council was too slow clambering out of the trenches: “Any recognition for these brave soldiers is welcome, but ANZAC celebrations of 100 years would have been, in my view, a great opportunity to present our appreciation to a very wide audience that has now been lost.”

Officially, around 1000 Aborigines served in WWWI and 5000 in WWII, but the figure could be far higher as at the time the veterans affairs department was required only to list names and not cultural backgrounds.

Upon return to Australia, Aboriginal diggers received not thanks but ignorance and racism, and were ineligible for land grants provided to other returned veterans. Membership of Returned Services Leagues clubs was also denied. Some returned to discover the country they’d fought for had removed their children.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

COPPERS on horseback are patrolling Hyde and Roberston Parks in North Perth following increasing reports of yobbos.

Hyde Park has improved—20 years ago it was notorious for its gay bashings—but renewed rowdiness means it’s become less savoury for families wanting to enjoy the water park or have a barbie.

Recently the Voice saw a man napping under a tree in Robertson Park: a woman pulled a bin out of its frame and started hitting him with it (we called the police).

Vincent council reports being inundated with phone calls from people about criminal activity in the parks, much of it rowdy boozing and a little biffo.

But its rangers have no power to move people on nor confiscate drugs or sneaky booze so any calls about crime or antisocial behaviour need to go to the cops.

by DAVID BELL

MENORA paddler Georgina Collin is the only woman to make both teams for the 2015 wildwater and the canoe slalom junior world championships.

The canoe slalom race is in Brazil in April and then she’ll be heading to North Carolina, USA for the wildwater race.

The former Perth college student used to be a javelin champ, winning a state championship when she was 12, but then a knee problem meant she had to call it a day.

“The surgeon said kayaking would be a good option,” Ms Collin says.

The sport has its hazards like getting stuck under a waterfall or being tipped upside down (all you can do is wait till you’re out of the suck spot and then right yourself) but Ms Collin says “I never was very scared of that when I started.

“When I first started I did some dumb things like paddling down rapids, I rolled a lot, I got stuck in stoppers… I think I’m more scared now.”

In the slalom it’s rocketing back and forth darting between poles, while the wildwater race is a sprint down the rapids.

She can only train rapids for three months a year, with her dedicated dad driving her out to Chittering Valley: the rest of the year it’s flatwater practice.

Ms Collin was due to start a physiotherapy course at Curtin this year but she’s deferred her studies so she can make all the team training camps on the east coast ahead of the big comp.

And while she’ll be in the party capital of the universe for the Brazilian comp, there’ll be no time for post-race partying: “We leave at 6am the next day!”

by DAVID BELL

FIRE has destroyed a 50-year-old-plus weeping peppermint on Lake Street, the sixth tree killed by vandals in six months.

The tree had a split in it (typical in mature peppermints) and the fire was started inside the split, causing damage to its structure. Vincent council staff decided on immediate removal as the risk of collapse was “high”.

It’s not yet known if the fire was lit on purpose: it could have been caused by a simple errant cigarette.

Mayor John Carey has grown increasingly frustrated with the near-constant destruction of trees in Lake and Beaufort Streets, much of it caused by late-night pub goers staggering home.

The council’s tried hard to green streets with various programs: it was the high rate of vandalism that led to the “adopt-a-tree” program where residents can nominate a tree they keep an eye on and report issues to the council.

“It’s incredibly frustrating to lose any tree, [especially] one that’s more than 50 years old,” Mr Carey says.

“I just think it’s very sad, and I have to admit it’s one of the most incredibly frustrating issues as mayor.

“Other than active surveillance by our rangers and local residents, it’s a difficult issue to grapple with. Basically you’re saying to yobbos and drunken idiots ‘show more respect’ and I think unfortunately given human nature some of them are never going to show respect or the community.

“All we can do is ask people: please join our adopt-a-tree program, please keep an eye out.”

The burned tree will be replaced by two younger peppermints.

by DAVID BELL

A MARKET, on a Monday night, beside a busy dual-carriage way road?

When Inglewood on Beaufort first floated the idea of a Beaufort Street market between Sixth and Tenth Avenues on the most tame school night of the week, there were a few raised eyebrows and sneers. But five months on, the market has proved a roaring success and will close for autumn with its head held high.

IOB manager Jeff Atkinson says the market will reopen in August and is planning to expand north, up towards the Inglewood clock tower, and south past Mondo Butchers.

“The venture was a risk, because we were trying an unconventional location on an unconventional night—most markets are held in open spaces at the weekends, not on the side of a busy thoroughfare on a Monday night,” he says.

“But once we blocked off the outer lanes and introduced a 40k speed limit, things started to take off. “We’re now looking at easier ways for customers to cross the road with dedicated crossing points.”

Mr Atkinson says the markets attract an average of 3000 people per night, with attendances peaking at 7000.

“A lot of the surrounding shops have benefited from the extra foot traffic and now open open on a Monday night, when they were previously closed,” he says.

“The aim is to get return customers and attract new people from outside of Inglewood.”

“We’ve got WAAPA students performing and stalls selling fruit and veg and arts and crafts; it’s not just prepared food,” he says.

Mr Atkinson says IOB will debrief over the next few weeks.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK