Critical Path

Head to Dancing Sydney to read Joshua Di Mattina-Beven’s beautiful text TOUCHING LANGUAGE in response to two incredible performances at Critical Path:

Chloe Chignell’s work SUNCUT with Mara Schwerdtfeger, and Ivey Wawn & Rhiannon Newton’s work Premonition: at the end of a dream of a cave, a portal with Del Lumanta presented by Performance Space.

📸 Chloe Chignell by Anna Kučera
Mara Schwerdtfeger by Anna Kučera
Rhiannon Newton & Ivey Wawn by Lucy Parakhina
Del Lumanta by Lucy Parakhina

CALL OUT FOR RESEARCH ROOM RESIDENCIES 2026

DEADLINE: SUNDAY 16 AUGUST 2026

Critical Path invites independent choreographers and dancers to undertake focused research inside our small research room from September to December 2026.

A Research Room residency gives an artist the opportunity to use the room to undertake research for their choreographic projects. Review archival footage. Meet and consolidate ideas with collaborators. Reflect on a recent project. Each residency can be between 1 week and 4 weeks. Please note the Research Room is a small room with two desks and a small library.

A Research Room residency can be between 1 and 4 weeks. You can request a period between Monday 31 August – 11 December 2026.

Nice views for daydreaming!
Small space for focusing.

Apply! Link in our bio 💚🍃🌳

We are so excited to announce a new workshop with the extraordinary Elizabeth Ryan!!

SPACE – for Being and Creation

12-13 SEPTEMBER 2026
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
11AM - 3PM (with half hour lunch break)

The Drill Hall, Critical Path
Gadigal & Birrabirragal Country

$150-$250 (+ booking fee)
Sliding scale depending on one's financial means.

This workshop invites participants into a meditative and spacious experience of the rich terrain existing between meditation and creativity.

Through meditative techniques cultivating present moment awareness and a deepening into an undercurrent of stillness, we will expand into a practice of being and creation with space given to movement, writing, discussion, contemplation and connection to the nature of ourselves and each other in deep listening, witnessing and experiencing.

This is an invitation to pause, reset and refill your inner reservoir of energy, ideas, experiences and new perspectives. An opportunity to unfold, expand and nurture creative aliveness in restorative, inspiring SPACE.

Link in bio ❤️

We are thrilled to have Naarm-based artists Sofie McClure and Anika De Ruyter in residence at the Drill Hall this week.

Sofie and Anika are developing their stunning new work ‘Dead Weight of Endless Potential’, a disassemblage of the body as a vehicle of habit. Between the infinite suspension of moments of action and a cradling within inertia, the body is pulled beyond its own momentum.

Photo of Sofie McClure and Anika De Ruyter, 'Dead Weight of Endless Potential', Lake George, Ngambri Country, 2026. Film still by William McClure.

CO/MINGLING 2026

Calling performers, dancers, movers, musicians, vocalists and sound artists!

You’re invited to CO/MINGLING — a collaborative space for artists across different, yet connected practices to come together and experiment through improvisation.

Critical Path is delighted to be hosting two special ‘CO/MINGLES’ at the Drill Hall on:

SATURDAY 25 JULY
SATURDAY 24 October

1pm-4pm
* Doors open at 12:30pm for 1pm start

CO/MINGLING is a program supported by Merrigong Theatre in Wollongong for artists to collaborate once a month in the Illawarra. Artists are welcome to join these sessions in Wollongong throughout the year, as well as to the two sessions in Sydney at the Drill Hall. Build your regular practice with the CO/MINGLING artist collective.

🔗 Link to register for 25 July session is in our bio.

CO/MINGLING is facilitated by Linda Luke. Queries: [email protected]

CO/MINGLING is suitable for dancers, performers, movers and musicians, recent graduates and current tertiary level/pre-professional dance and music students.

Photo credit: Ali Gordon, Alexandra Giraldo-Pedroza, Daryl Wallis and Carla Yamine, photo by Linda Luke. Image courtesy of Linda Luke and Merrigong Theatre Company.

We are very excited to announce a workshop led by Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) exploring company repertoire!!

TUESDAY 11 AUGUST
4PM-7PM

Internationally renowned and Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide based company, Australian Dance Theatre invites dancers to join the company for a workshop exploring ADT’s work Two Blood.

Presented in association with Kurinji, Two Blood is an intensely physical work that crashes through the narratives that have shaped our nation. Facilitated by company artists, the workshop will guide participants through a series of movement methodologies introducing the themes of the work and the company’s approach to creative process.

The workshop is open to professional and emerging dancers and will provide insight into the company and touring work Two Blood. Workshop activities include repertoire and creative tasking to explore new movement ideas.

REGISTER NOW: Link in bio

We can't wait to see you there!

Photo: Jonathan VDK

A massive thank you to everyone who has generously supported our campaign to raise funds for more artists to undertake our Responsive Residency program!

There’s still time today to make a tax-deductible donation before the end of this financial year!

With your support, we can nurture more incredible dance artists so they can continue creating exceptional work.

Every gift makes a difference, no matter how small. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.

IMAGE CREDIT: BODY DATA LOOP, at U108, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, 2024, Photos by David Chen, Hank Tsai & Anpis Wang. Artists: Ming-Chieh Lee, Nasim Patel, Roslyn Orlando, Zi-Ping Tian. Curators: Matt Cornell & Cicia Wang.

Calling First Nations dance makers!

Do you have a truth-telling project or idea which needs dedicated, supported research time, both in and out of the studio?

Through partnering with AIATSIS and connecting you with the Collections Department First Nations at Powerhouse Museum, this residency is designed to support your research and choreographic exploration of a truth telling idea.

Please see LINK IN BIO for more information and how to apply.

This is a funded opportunity.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 11pm AEST Wednesday 5 August 2026

Truth Telling residency is a part of Critical Path First Nations program titled HOLDING SPACE curated by Jasmin Sheppard. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, as well as the NSW government through Create NSW.

Image credit: Jasmin Sheppard, ‘The Complication of Lyrebirds’. Photo by Luke Currie Richardson.

Invest in our artists so they can continue creating exceptional work.

Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible. Every gift makes a difference.
All funds raised go directly to artists.

Link in bio.

Photo credits: BODY DATA LOOP, at U108, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, 2024, Photos by David Chen, Hank Tsai & Anpis Wang. Artists: Ming-Chieh Lee, Nasim Patel, Roslyn Orlando, Zi-Ping Tian. Curators: Matt Cornell & Cicia Wang.

APPLICATIONS FOR OUR RESPONSIVE RESIDENCY PROGRAM ARE NOW OPEN

Critical Path is delighted to offer three Responsive Residencies for 2026/2027.

NSW-based choreographers and dance artists are invited to propose projects with a focus on choreographic research. Proposals can be for the exploration of a new idea, question, or process that supports the development of your practice and/or the development of new work.

Each residency includes up to $12,000 AUD and up to three weeks of space at the Drill Hall. Artists are welcome to suggest alternative spaces in NSW as part of their residency.

The residency periods in the Drill Hall on offer include:

24 August –11 September 2026
10 – 28 May 2027
7 – 25 June 2027

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 8 JUNE 2026, 11:59PM

There will be an online information session on Thursday 28th May, 4pm.

Find out more in links in our bio.

Photo: Chloe Chignell, SUNCUT, performance with sound composition by Mara Schwerdtfeger, Critical Path, 2026, photo: Anna Kučera.