Lion Heart Dance Company chooses dancers

The new Lion Heart Dance Company, under the direction of Benjamin Curé, held auditions last month in preparation for the company to have its official debut in March with its premiere of Table of Eight.

While launching a company is no easy business and preparing for its inaugural season isn’t always smooth sailing, Lion Heart found success with its first open auditions on Sunday, January 10 in Melbourne. Curé welcomed the following dancers to the Lion Heart cast: Brandon Anderson, Brett Beckhurst, Skylar Delphinus, Debbie Keenan, Andrew J Liu, Jake O’Brien, Jodie Toogood and Rachel Whelan.

A graduate of The Space Dance & Arts Centre’s full-time program, Curé is known for his 2014 work The Scarlet Trace and for competing on So You Think You Can Dance Australia.

His latest work, Table of Eight, is the first official production under Lion Heart’s umbrella. It’s described as a contemporary dance work showcasing Curé’s “signature quirky, intricate choreography” that is “flooded with honesty.”

The show’s synopsis reads: “After losing one of their own, a tight-knit friendship circle must navigate the rapidly changing landscape of their relationships. As grief begins to undo each individual, the integrity of the group also starts to unravel.”

The work asks, “Despite the abundance of channels through which we can communicate, why are people feeling more isolated and unable to reach out when they need it most?”

For more information on the inaugural season of Lion Heart Dance Company, visit www.lionheartdancecompany.com. Table of Eight will run at Melbourne’s Chapel Off Chapel on Wednesday-Saturday, March 9-12. Tickets can now be purchased at chapeloffchapel.com.au or (03) 829070000.