The Freestyle Orchestra: The Threads That Bind

The Threads That Bind, co-created by members of The Freestyle Orchestra, draws from and builds on concepts from Tempus Fugit (2021), which explored, through music and movement, the concept of time and the way our perceptions of it can vary. The Threads That Bind reflects a shift in the ensemble’s work to focus on floor-based group movement. Using strings, threads and loops (both visible and invisible), live classical music performance is mixed with live looping and electronics while connections, physical and musical are explored through ensemble performance. Using bodies, balance, sounds and instruments we explore both musical and physical connections, celebrating the invisible, connective tissues, structures and sounds that unite us.

The Freestyle Orchestra is an interdisciplinary chamber orchestra whose members are also skilled in movement arts including acrobatics, aerial performance and physical theater. They enjoy disrupting perceptions of what classical music looks like and how it is presented. International performance highlights include: Venice Biennale, Buskers Festival Vienna, Les Jardins Musicaux, as well as 'Concertos on Fire' (Vivid Festival Sydney 2019), a residency at the West Australian Circus Festival 2020 and at Handstand Extravaganza in Sicily 2020-2023. Their most recent initiatives and collaborations include The Looking Glass Cabaret (Dec 2020, June 2021), and The Secret Garden Festival (August 2021) and Vien.noir (May-June 2022). The Freestyle Orchestra presented Tempus Fugit at Kultursommer 2021, and their work has been featured in the artistic research portal, The Research Catalogue, at conferences including Classical Next and ELIA Biennial, and their recent documentary for Fable Arts selected for the Circus International Film Festival.