Growing up on a grape-growing property in Mildura, Shaun Parker discovered dance after attending his sister’s ballet concert. From there his dance career took off, including a decade with Meryl Tankard’s Australian Dance Theatre and stints with Force Majeure, Chunky Move, Sydney Theatre Company, Australia Opera, the Song Company, Meredith Monk (New York), Company ALIAS (Geneva) and Sasha Waltz (Berlin). In 2010 he founded his own dance company (Shaun Parker & Company) which has toured Australia and 21  countries including Palestine.

He joins us on Arts Wednesday to discuss his production of King for Sydney World Pride 2023 at the Seymour Centre 28 February – 4 March.

Featuring 10 dancers from diverse cultural backgrounds, it is set to 12 love songs composed and performed by Bulgarian vocalist, Ivo Dimchev. The choreography is very physical, with references to the film, The Matrix. It is set in a fantastical realm – part cocktail bar, part jungle  and explores themes of male sexuality and identity. At times  biting, conversely it is also a humorous theatrical experience.

Shaun also talks to us about his programs for emerging artists, Queer Bites, and his anti-bullying programs for schools, The Yard.

Arts Wednesday 10.30-12.00

15 February 2023

Eastside Radio 89.7fm

DAB+

eastsidefm.org/artswednesday