Restless Dance Theatre trains performers over video during coronavirus pandemic

Staying at home during the COVID-19 crisis isn’t stopping Jianna Georgiou from training with Restless Dance Theatre or connecting with her friends. Creating works for people with and without disability, the Adelaide company was founded in 1991. And for the first time in its history its dancers are unable to meet to train or socialise with one another. But they are now using laptops and iPads to video conference and dance together while they stay at home because of COVID-19. “As soon as we realised people would be isolated we made sure our main workshop program went online so that we could remain fit but also connected with each other,” Restless Dance Theatre artistic director Michelle Ryan said. “With the training they were doing (before COVID-19) their skill levels had increased dramatically – we wanted to make sure they continue to soar.” The dancers have been eager to embrace the technology so they can continue to participate in the company’s workshops, which they attend through NDIS plans. “It’s a really lovely moment at the beginning of the day to just see everybody and check in with each other,” Ms Ryan said. The switch to online to continue training for the six lead dancers in Seeing Through Darkness, which was due to have its premiere later this year, has benefited from a $50,000 grant from BankSA Foundation. Several of the company’s other projects will also go ahead thanks to the funds which came about after Restless Dance Theatre gave a performance at a BankSA function earlier this year. But an application to the Australia Council for funding for 2021-2024 has been unsuccessful. Australia Council transitional funding for 2021 will be allocated. Jianna Georgiou, who is the daughter of fashion house Alexis George’s Pat and George Georgiou, has been a dancer with Restless Dance Theatre for 13 years. Her trip to Korea with the company had to be cancelled because of the global crisis, and the 28-year-old, who has Down syndrome, has been in isolation for weeks. Quick to adapt to using technology, she is grateful Restless Dance Theatre is able to remain operational. “I get to see my friends and tutors again and it keeps me fit and I won’t forget all the things I have been learning,” she said. Mr Georgiou said staying connected “to her normal life which is Restless (Dance Theatre)” and training for Seeing Through Darkness had helped Jianna to feel less isolated. “The NDIS have been amazing to get behind and support our kids to stay connected and continue their workshops,” he said.