Critical Path Celebrates 20 Years With Free Three-Day Festival EVERY WILD IDEA
Sydney’s leading choreographic research centre marks its anniversary with live performance, film premieres, and archival explorations at The Drill Hall, November 14–16.
Critical Path, Australia’s leading centre for choreographic research and development, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a free, three-day festival titled Every Wild Idea, taking place Friday, November 14 to Sunday, November 16, 2025 at The Drill, the organisation’s heritage-listed harbourside home in Rushcutters Bay.
Since its founding in 2005, Critical Path has been a cornerstone of innovation in contemporary dance, providing space and support for professional artists to explore, experiment, and push the boundaries of choreographic practice. “Critical Path was established to fill a recognised gap in the independent dance sector in NSW,” said Artistic Director Agnès Michelet. “Twenty years on, Critical Path stands proud as a unique and significant contributor to the dance scene in Australia.”
The festival opens Friday, November 14 (7–9pm) with live performance and improvisation curated by Azzam Mohamed, known for blending street, club, and African dance forms. Seven artists will create and perform in real time as audiences are invited to roam freely through the space, witnessing creativity unfold.
Throughout the weekend, audiences can experience the premiere of Breakthroughs, a new documentary by Deborah May, exploring the creative process of five leading Australian dance artists. The film draws from Critical Path’s extensive archives alongside new footage to illuminate the often unseen moments behind artistic breakthroughs. “Dance is ephemeral,” said May, “and though documentation is vital, it’s rarely shared. Breakthroughs brings that hidden work to light.”
The celebration continues Sunday, November 16 (11am–1pm) with the launch of Critical Dialogues #16, a special anniversary edition of the organisation’s publication, alongside Vignettes flickers fades — a collaborative archival performance by Ira Ferris and Tammi Gissell. The event includes a music performance by Alexandra Spence and a dance performance by Ryuichi Fujimura, evoking the sensory landscape of The Drill Hall itself.
“The aim of Vignettes flickers fades is to reflect not only the significant moments in Critical Path’s history but also the textures, sounds, and atmosphere of the Drill,” said Ferris.
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Bondi Festival Waverly Council (7/03-7/19) |
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Weddings and Parties Over Coffee St. James Church, King St (8/09-8/09) |
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A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music and Dance Sensation Yuin Theatre at Bay Pavilions (9/08-9/08) |
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A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music and Dance Sensation Innisfail Shire Hall (8/07-8/07) |
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A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music and Dance Sensation Canberra Theatre Centre (9/13-9/13) |
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A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music and Dance Sensation Burdekin Theatre (8/12-8/12) |
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The Shark Is Broken Foundry Theatre (8/28-9/27) |
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Peter and the Wolf Family Cushion Concert Leichhardt Town Hall (7/25-7/25) |
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Afterglow Belvoir Street Theatre (7/09-7/25) |
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Next To Normal Greenhalgh Theatre (7/09-7/27) PHOTOS |