read dance write repeat
In this blog post I reflect on my second year living in Narrm/Melbourne, Australia and touch on my research process thus far.
In January we got a nine-month-old rescue dog, Soybean, now a firm member of the family alongside our lizard, Godzilla. Soybean has taken plenty of getting used to… but has given me joy and love in return. I have continued to work at Project Better Gym with a great group of clients who I enjoy training and catching up with each session. In October we visited my Thai family in-law in Bangkok, which I haven’t been able to since 2019! I was paid a couple visits by my NZ family. This year also marked the beginning of my Doctorate of Philosophy in Fine Arts and Music at the University of Melbourne.
I began my Doctorate in July in the dance faculty at the Victorian College of the Arts in Southbank. The process began by meeting my supervisors and committee chair and laying out a beginning framework for my research and methods. I also did the Methods in Artistic Research course which required me to gather relevant literature and write a draft confirmation report in preparation for next July.
My Practice-as-Research has so far consisted of experiments in the studio, video editing (Final Cut Pro), composing (Ableton Live), walking in parks (with Soy), reading, listening, writing, thinking and attending local talks and performances including recently by Erin Manning and Brian Massumi. This practice utilises improvisation to physicalise ideas and generate material which are recorded by video/writing. Such materials might include a quality or phrase of movement that I plan to develop further or leave open. Terms/concepts that I have moved in the studio include mycelium, fluidity, co-existence, queerness and individuation. Some, like fluidity, resonate in my dancing more than others but I find words to be helpful as enabling constraints.
I miss family, friends and the dance community in Tāmaki/Auckland. It’s people, land and culture remain a big part of my identity, which has been shaped my experiences as a dancer and artist researcher in Aotearoa. Speaking of NZ, I recently read chapters from Erik Olssen’s The Origins of an Experimental Society (2025), which details the settler-colonial history of New Zealand and their relationship(s) with Māori. Upon reading about these early interactions between Māori and Europeans before and after Te Tiriti, it struck me how little I understood about these relations and the ideologies and beliefs of the explorers, scientists, historians and missionaries. Rather than try to unpack this any further, I will say I feel a responsibility as someone of British/Irish ancestry growing up in NZ, to learn about the history of where I am in order to better understand the present context on colonised land.
To conclude, I would like to focus on what I am grateful for and looking forward to in 2026. I am grateful for the work opportunities I have had at Victorian College of the Arts which always ends up also teaching me about myself and methods as a teacher. I am also grateful to my supervisors for their artistic and academic suggestions which might resonate with my research and feedback on my work so far. To my husband for his continued support, humour and exceptional cooking! Lastly, I am very thankful to be a recipient of the Graduate Research Scholarship which has allowed me to pursue my Doctoral studies without worrying about my bank balance and for all the resources at my disposal at the university.
Wishing all my family and friends a Happy New Year and sending love to all those struggling in what are uncertain times.
Adam xx