Dancenorth Australia

08/10/2026

08/10/2026

We’re excited to announce that Lighting the Dark will be heading to Red Earth Arts Precinct this 24 October.

It’s a joy to share this inspirational work with audiences in Karratha, WA as the final destination on our 2026 national tour.

Tickets are on sale now. Book via the 'Lighting the Dark 2026 National Tour' link in our bio.

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Image by Aaron Ashley

Funding Acknowledgement:
Lighting the Dark was commissioned by Brisbane Festival, and is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, and the Ian Potter Foundation.
Dancenorth Australia is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, and by Townsville City Council. Dancenorth is supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund.

05/10/2026

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗭𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 | 𝗣𝗨𝗡𝗤 | 𝟴-𝟭𝟬 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿

Zane Saunders’ latest major work ‘Preface’ will premiere at Pop-Up North Queensland - PUNQ 2026, transforming the old NSW Bank building into an experiential environment where movement, symbolism and contemporary media converge.

Zane’s artistic practice utilises performance, installation, sound, sculpture and moving image to examine the intersection of spirituality, Country, memory and the enduring impacts of colonialism. Through immersive, ritualistic works, Zane invites audiences into spaces of contemplation, challenging inherited narratives while reconnecting with Indigenous systems of knowledge and cultural responsibility.

His previous works have been presented at the National Gallery of Australia, Dancenorth, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts (Meanjin/ Brisbane) and Bulmba-ja (Gimuy/ Cairns). He has also undertaken an Australia Council residency at Location One in New York.

Since 2018, Dancenorth has welcomed Zane through a series of creative residencies and visits, supporting the ongoing development of his practice in partnership with Queensland Performing Arts Centre and the Regional Arts Services Network.

We’re delighted to partner with Umbrella Studio of Contemporary Arts and PUNQ Festival to present ‘Preface’ this 8-10 October.

Tickets for 'Preface' are on sale now. Head to the PUNQ website for all the details - https://www.umbrella.org.au/preface/

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Image Credit:
Zane Saunders, Preface, 2026, Performance Installation in the old NSW Bank Building on Gurambilbarra / Townsville. PUNQ 2026 Commission. Video still: Russell Milledge.

Funding Acknowledgement:
Preface is commissioned by PUNQ Festival, produced in partnership with Dancenorth, and is supported by QPAC and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

03/10/2026

Another wonderful response from audiences at last night’s show! ✨

“Exceptionally brilliant”

“I was absolutely transformed into another world with this performance”

“All aspects of this experience worked so cleverly together to transport the fortunate audience to wonderful levels”

“Unbelievable mastery of a show”

“Sleepless Ones invites audiences into a liminal world suspended between dream and nightmare, clarity and confusion, humour and dread"

We’d love you to join us for the final performance tonight.

Limited tickets remain. Book now via https://events.humanitix.com/sleepless-ones-by-michelle-heaven

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Images by Aaron Ashely

02/10/2026

A fantastic review by Andrew Snee of last night's World Premiere of Sleepless Ones.

"a vivid dreamscape where cryptic visions collided with unsettling nightmares"

"an immersive hour of sensory stimulation"

"Sleepless Ones invites audiences into a liminal world suspended between dream and nightmare, clarity and confusion, humour and dread."

Check out the link below to read the full review

Contemporary dance is probably the performing art form I am least experienced in analysing and writing about, yet it remains one of the most fascinating. While I am still developing the language and critical frameworks to engage fully with it, I am increasingly drawn to its ability to communicate wi...

02/10/2026

Just two more performaces to go!

Catch Sleepless Ones at the Dancenorth Theatre tonight and Saturday night.

Tickets available via https://dancenorth.com.au/works/sleepless-ones

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Video and edit by Aaron Ashley

02/10/2026

What an incredible Opening Night of Sleepless Ones last night! ✨

We welcomed a full house of enthusiastic audiences, and the response has been wonderful:

“A mesmerising show!”
“Transcendent”
“Remarkable lighting”
“The best thing I’ve ever seen”
“There’s a new must see”
“Sublime blend of pure talent and perspicacious choreography”

Ready to experience Sleepless Ones for yourself?

Limited tickets remain for tonight and tomorrow night.

Book now - https://events.humanitix.com/sleepless-ones-by-michelle-heaven

01/10/2026

We are excited to welcome a full house to opening night of Sleepless Ones tonight! ✨

There’s still a chance to catch this eloquent, quirky, cinematic-like dance experience Friday and Saturday night.

Tickets are selling fast. Book now - https://events.humanitix.com/sleepless-ones-by-michelle-heaven

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Images by Aaron Ashley

30/09/2026

We’re so excited to be collaborating with Dancenorth Australia to celebrate the World Premiere of Sleepless Ones, opening next week!

To mark the occasion, we’ve put together our very own Sleepless Ones Reading List — a collection of classic Renaissance literature, fascinating reads about Renaissance artists, and historical fiction for anyone wanting to delve a little deeper into the inspirations behind the show.

And there’s a little something extra both ways — purchase any book from our Sleepless Ones collection and receive 20% off your ticket to the show, or show us your Sleepless Ones ticket and receive 20% off any book from the collection.

Shop the collection in store or online and add a little reading behind the performance.

We love any excuse to bring books and the arts together, and we’re thrilled to be part of celebrating this incredible world premiere right here in Townsville. 🧡

30/09/2026

𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗧 | 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁’𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁

There are still tickets available for Friday and Saturday’s shows.

Book now - https://events.humanitix.com/sleepless-ones-by-michelle-heaven

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𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗲𝘀
Bodies drift through detailed worlds where beauty emerges from unrest.

Inspired by the emotional intensity of Renaissance imagery, Sleepless Ones inhabits invented realms charged with light; cloaked in shadow; and alive with quiet chaos.

History and myth are reimagined as restless souls find themselves haunted by their own potential, suspended between who they are and who they long to be.

Epic themes.
Intricate detail.
Absurdity that echoes current times.

Award-winning artists Michelle Heaven and Ben Cobham fuse iconic imagery, compelling choreography and filmic scores to deliver a cinematic-like dance experience with Townsville’s celebrated Dancenorth Ensemble.

Dates: 1-3 October
Time: 7pm-8pm
Venue: Dancenorth Theatre

Images by Aaron Ashley