Where science and dance meet Indigenous and cross cultural heritage…
‘Magnificus Magnificus’, performed by Tammi Gissell and directed by Liz Lea, dives into the world of the red tailed Black Cockatoo. ‘Magnificus Magnificus’ draws upon Indigenous knowledge and stories, aligned with science. The work celebrates a stunning bird, her history, character and style in a cabaretesque explosion of feathers.
Highly theatrical with a simple but effective set ‘Magnificus Magnificus’ explores the nature of being a performer, where they come from and how they go forward, making the most of Tammi’s strong performance quality, speaking voice, strength and vulnerability. The red tailed Black Cockatoo is the bringer of truth, tears and rain. Let the stories begin.
- Venue Format
- Theatre, Hall, Black Box Venue, Outdoor
- Technical Rating
- Touring Party
- 4
- Considerations
We need areas to suspend set but aside form that it is self contained.
Liz Lea is a performer, choreographer and producer based in NSW and Canberra after 20 years in Europe, touring internationally. Her speciality is working with classical Indian dance and martial arts. She has worked with Ranjabati Sircar, Mavin Khoo, the Royal Opera House and English Bach Festival and been commissioned in India, UK, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and USA.
Under her company, Liz Lea Dance, she has created and toured a dozen shows including '120 Birds', 'Magnificus Magnificus' inspired by the red tailed black cockatoo for Indigenous dancer Tammi Gissell and 'Kapture', inspired by the South African freedom fighter, Ahmed Kathrada.
Named as the 2017 ACT City News Artist of the Year Liz was also awarded a 2017 Australian Dance Award for her direction of Great Sport! for Canberra Dance Theatre.
Liz creates children's shows inspired by science and in 2017 she toured Reef UP! to 40 venues nationally. She also runs two Festivals - BOLD, celebrating the legacy of dance and DANscienCE where dance and science meet. DANscienCE; Moving Well ran on the 2nd June 2018, presented by FORM Dance Projects and Riverside Theatres.
Most recently she premiered her new one woman show, RED, to critical acclaim and is touring through 2020.
- Company Website
- leadance.com
Unique Selling Point
We can offer contemporary and Indigenous dance workshops along with Indigenous storytelling and music workshops.We can also offer post performance talks enabling people to ask questions about Indigenous culture and or the Black Cockatoo and the scientific research that lies behind the work.The piece deals specifically with indigenous cultural practices - that can be discussed and how these align with notions of environmental issues, damage we have done to the country and specifically how this has affected the Red Tail Black Cockatoos - but also the efforts and research being undertaken to assist the birds and what people can do to help.
Comments/Reviews
Media Review
Along the way Gissell transforms into both birds, performs an impressive routine on roller-skates, then executes her finale resplendent in high heels, a towering red and black feathered headdress and showgirl feathers. This spell-binding tour-de-force is accompanied by an evocative soundscape.
Media Review
Strikingly performed by indigenous dancer, Tammi Gissell... a stunning dancer, who addresses the audience directly and disarmingly about the habits and nature of the cockatoo, and the bush turkey, and how both relate to her own life and experiences as a cabaret showgirl.