Presented by Asia TOPA and Arts Centre Melbourne, the renowned contemporary dance company Chunky Move unveils U>N>I>T>E>D, an exhilarating new work set in a speculative future.
This ambitious stage performance will take place at the iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl from 27 February to 2 March 2025, featuring an international collaboration that merges music, dance, and cutting-edge design as part of Asia TOPA 2025.
U>N>I>T>E>D by Chunky Move
- Dates: 27 February – 2 March 2025
- Venue: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Kings Domain Gardens, Linlithgow Ave, Melbourne VIC 3000
Performance schedule and details
- Thursday, 27 February at 9:00 pm (bar opens 8:30 pm)
- Friday, 28 February at 9:00 pm (bar opens 8:30 pm)
- Saturday, 1 March at 9:00 pm (pre-show tactile tour 8:00 pm, bar opens 8:30 pm, performance audio described)
- Sunday, 2 March at 9:00 pm (bar opens 8:30 pm)
Ticket prices
- General: $69
- Concession: $59
- Mob Tix (for First Nations community): $30
Explore Melbourne’s latest arts and stage news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
View this post on Instagram
In U>N>I>T>E>D, six dancers delve into themes of machine mysticism and spirituality’s resilience in a post-industrial, digital age. Their movements unfold against gamelan-infused, Javanese trance-inspired techno beats, created by Javanese techno innovators Gabber Modus Operandi, known for their recent collaboration on Björk’s album Fossora. The dancers’ motocross-inspired, upcycled exoskeleton costumes transform them into mythological, post-human beings, blending ancient and futuristic aesthetics.
The production represents a groundbreaking partnership with Bali-based streetwear brand Future Loundry and Creature Technology Co., world leaders in animatronic design. U>N>I>T>E>D offers audiences an otherworldly experience of music, movement, and science-fiction design that bridges technologies both ancient and modern.
Chunky Move, led by co-CEOs Antony Hamilton and Kristy Ayre, is celebrated for its genre-defying approach to contemporary dance. Over nearly three decades, the company has reached audiences worldwide, performing in 134 cities across 150 festivals. With U>N>I>T>E>D, Chunky Move continues its legacy of innovative and collaborative dance that pushes the boundaries of performance.
What is Asia TOPA?
View this post on Instagram
Asia TOPA, Australia’s major triennial of Asia-Pacific performance, returns from 20 February to 10 March 2025 with a vibrant lineup of new art and performance from across the Asia-Pacific. Every three years, Asia TOPA showcases the best of Asia-Pacific arts, culture, and ideas, creating a three-week celebration that spotlights the diversity and dynamism of the region. The 2025 triennial will feature breathtaking works in dance, theatre, music, and visual art, alongside a new nightlife program and unique opportunities to connect with artists and creative communities.
Led by Creative Director Jeff Khan and a fresh team, Asia TOPA 2025 offers Melbourne a space to build connections, exchange bold ideas, and envision future possibilities. This year’s program welcomes cultural innovators and artistic visionaries from the Asia-Pacific, celebrating the power of art to inspire, surprise, and captivate. Originating as a joint initiative of Sidney Myer Fund and Arts Centre Melbourne, Asia TOPA launched in 2017 under founding Creative Director Stephen Armstrong, establishing itself as a key event in Australia’s arts calendar. Across its 2017 and 2020 festivals, Asia TOPA presented 631 events featuring 1,960 artists, solidifying its role in Melbourne’s cultural landscape.
For more information, visit Asia TOPA.
