Guerin steps out with show of good humour

TWO trained and two untrained dancers will be pitted against one another at the Adelaide Festival in acclaimed South Australian choreographer Lucy Guerin's first work here for 10 years.

Guerin's Untrained has been programmed alongside major works by Australian and overseas companies in artistic director Paul Grabowksy's contemporary dance program. 

While Guerin works extensively in Australia and overseas with her company, Lucy Guerin Inc, her work has not been seen in Adelaide since Robyn Archer included it in her program for the 2000 Festival. 

Untrained last year premiered in Melbourne, where Guerin now lives. 

``I really planned it as a development or experimental exercise and wasn't thinking it would necessarily become a performance,'' Guerin said. 

``It's a very stripped-back work, not the sort of thing you normally expect to see when you go to dance, and I thought audiences might find it a bit dry. 

``But they loved it. It turned out to be one of the most accessible and funny pieces I've done. 

``As well as finding it quite humorous, people imagine what it would be like if it were them up on stage. There's a real sympathy and admiration for the untrained performers.'' 

The untrained dancers are visual artists. Simon Obarzanek, is the brother of Gideon Obarzanek, a well-known Melbourne choreographer and Guerin's partner of 11 years. 

The other is photographer Ross Coulter, who joins professional dancers Anthony Hamilton and Byron Perry in the work. 

``The beauty of the untrained dancers is their special untrained ability,'' Guerin said. 

Guerin graduated from the Centre for the Performing Arts, now Adelaide College of the Arts, in 1982. She moved to New York in 1989 and spent seven years dancing with companies there. 

``I'm very excited about showing something of what I've been doing in my home town, although it's very different to the works I usually make,'' she said. 

Her plans for Untrained include a regional tour in 2010 and 2011, possibly extending to SA and recruiting local people to appear in the show. 

``We might end up with plumbers or farmers or sportspeople taking the roles of the untrained dancers,'' she said. 

Untrained will be performed at Adelaide Centre for the Arts from February 24 to 28. Bookings through BASS.