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Crooked Contemporary

For Queer people, allies and all those curious about movement

weekly

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Dance Class

Crooked Contemporary

For Queer people, allies and all those curious about movement
This special four-week series of our Contemporary Open Classes celebrates Queerness as a driving force by empowering self-expression and releasing judgement.
These classes cast off rigid expectations of our bodies, to embrace them in all their playful, ambiguous forms.
Together, we will learn to listen and respond to the body without predefined ideas of how movement should look or feel.
We will get to know our dancing bodies.
We will sow the seeds of liberation and transformation through play.
We will use embodied writing tasks to find a language for the as-yet-unsaid.
We will be so silly, and so serious, and so Camp.
These classes are suitable for Queer people and allies, new and experienced dancers, and anyone willing to have a go.
We are committed to safe physical, emotional and cultural practices, striving to create an environment where everyone can feel supported to play, develop their skills, discover greater freedom in their bodies, and connect with others.

Date

Wednesday nights

Starting Wednesday 22 Jul 2026

Schedule

22 July 6pm-7:15pm | Wulguru Community Centre
29 July 6pm-7:15pm | Wulguru Community Centre
5 August 6pm-7:15pm | Dancenorth Theatre
12 August 6pm-7:15pm | Dancenorth Studio (upstairs)

Cost

$15 for a single class
$100 for a 10-class pass (valid for all Dancenorth classes)

Accessibility

Dancenorth is located on the corner of Walker and Stanley Streets in Townsville City.
The ground floor of the venue is fully accessible, this includes the Dancenorth Theatre, foyer, bar, main offices and wheelchair accessible toilet. The main entrance is located at Stanley Street and accessible via wheelchair lift.
There is a drop off area outside the Clarion Hotel on Stanley Street, 50m from our main entrance.
Please note:
Occasionally our in-house classes take place in an alternative venue or in the upstairs Dancenorth Studio. The upstairs Dancenorth Studio is only accessible via a steep flight of stairs. Please check the class schedule, Dancenorth's social media, or call us prior to your visit to confirm class location for that week.

Additional Information

For more information or to ask any questions about our classes, please contact:
Phone: (07) 4772 2549
Email: community@dancenorth.com.au

Who is this class for?

These classes are suitable for people aged 15 years and above; including new and experienced dancers, performers and anyone willing to have a go.

Meet your Teacher

Michael Smith

Michael Smith (they/he) is an award-winning artist working within contemporary dance, dance-theatre, film and literature. With Queerness as a driving force in their process-ing, Michael foregrounds the body in a practice that experiments with and empowers modes of existence from the peripheries of dominant narratives and societal norms.


Michael is currently an Ensemble dancer / performer with Dancenorth Australia and an Artistic Advisor with The Farm, a physical theatre / contemporary dance company based in Yugumbeh (Gold Coast).


Michael's choreographic work has been presented at esteemed national and international platforms including Sydney Festival, MONA FOMA (Lutruwita), Brisbane Festival, MELT Festival: Brisbane Powerhouse, Dance Massive (Naarm), Melbourne Fringe Festival, Metro Arts (Meanjin), Desert Festival (Mparntwe), Umbrella Studio of Contemporary Arts (Gurambilburra), Ars Electronica (Austria), TanzZiet (Berlin), AGITART Figueres Festival MOU (Spain), Japan Media Arts Festival and Sunshine Coast Arts Prize.


Their work COWBOY (with The Farm, 2021) received Matilda Awards for Best New Australian Work and Best Sound Design / Composition.; and Fertile Ground (2025), created with performer and choreographer Ashleigh Musk, was nominated for three Green Room Awards.


Michael has most recently founded CROOKED: A Defiant Queer Publication born in the dust and heat of regional Queensland. CROOKED is a collaboration with London’s highly celebrated SISSY ANARCHY and founder P. Eldridge, with its inaugural issue set for release in November 2026. 

Michael's Website
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