Body Code in Conversation
This event explored a performing arts lens on Artificial Intelligence and disability inclusion. It was a collaborative conversation with Vulcana’s performance director Celia White, and researchers from Queensland University of Technology, Disability advocate and researcher, Bree Hadlley, and researcher in human computer interactions, Laurianne Sitbon.
This conversation invited contributions from anyone interested in the intersections of art, disability and technology to contribute to Vulcana’s performance project, Body Code, in 2025.
The ideas generated in this event will help shape the project. The event was attended by people from Brisbane, Charleville and the Gold coast.
Body Code Creative Development
Following the Body Conversation in September 2024, Vulcana invited 6 artists with Disabilities to collaborate and delve into the themes of the project over one week of exploration in October 2024.
Facilitated by Jo Dunbar, Melbourne-based, is a choreographer, director and facilitator, with 20 years’ experience in the professional arts industry. Jo’s facilitator strength is enabling the learning space to be one where we learn from ourselves and each other. She co-founded Australia’s first dance company for deaf and hearing performers, The Delta Project, performed with renowned arts companies Strange Fruit and Restless Dance theatre, taught dance and physical theatre workshops to companies both regionally and nationally and co-directed Momentum for the Women’s Circus in 2022-2023. Born profoundly deaf and bi-lingual in both English and Auslan she is passionate about all things diverse, experimental and inclusive.
Jo worked with artists Lauren Watson, Julie Lyons, Chaos Beth, Courtney McKee and Allycia Staples.
Together we teased out what we thought about AI and its potentials and risks, and discovered ways to work across languages, communication styles, senses and performance possibilities. This gives us a range of starting points for our Body Code performance project in 2025 when we invite more participant artists to contribute to devising and presenting this new work at the Kingston Butter Factory, November 2025.
Body Code will be created with partners, The Brotherhood of the Wordless, VantagePoint Audio Description, Queensland University of Technology and members of disability communities in the Brisbane area.