Beyond the Walls 2022

Celebrated Australian arts company Phunktional will bring their extraordinary dance work, Beyond the Walls to Sydney Dance Company on December 15th, 2022.

This inspiring program of original dance works was choreographed by young people incarcerated in Youth Justice Centres, directing the professional dancers. First presented in 2019, the public performances of Beyond the Walls, including a sold-out performance at Redfern Community Centre, were acclaimed by audiences.

Throughout November 2022, Beyond the Walls once again visited two NSW youth justice centres – Frank Baxter and Reiby Youth Justice Centre, workshopping five brand new dance works to present to audiences. They worked with the young people aged 11 to 19, encouraging them to share experiences and stories in the form of dance and directing the dancers. Together, they found a collective voice for their individual experience.

Inspired by the heart-breaking stories of young people in Youth Justice Centres, artist, dancer, and social activist Gerard Veltre wrote his first educational theatre production in 2007 to educate and support other young people from making similarly avoidable and painful mistakes. Phunktional has since collaborated with artists on projects across the country, and more than 350,000 people have been a part of or seen their work.

In the lead up to the performance at Sydney Dance Company, Gerard Veltre, and members of Phunktional will host a series of performances and events across NSW to raise awareness of youth incarceration and mental and physical health of young people. The program will include a screening of the dance films created in Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre and a live performance of a dance piece created by the young women in Reiby Youth Justice Centre. There will also be a Q&A panel featuring the artists from Beyond the Walls after the performances.

Phunktional is passionate about providing equal opportunities for diverse communities and using the arts as a vehicle for creative expression to inspire change and to confront social issues of concern.