‘Restore’: PICA and STRUT Dance Showcase a Striking Double Bill of Innovation

Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) is proud to partner with STRUT Dance to present Restore, a compelling double bill of new and recent dance works that celebrates choreographic experimentation and cross-regional collaboration. This 2025 season features the West Australian premiere of CUDDLE by Harrison Ritchie-Jones and the Australian premiere of Bell by Adelina Larsson Mendoza.  

In CUDDLE, Narrm/Melbourne based dance artists Harrison Ritchie-Jones and Michaela Tancheff engage in a surreal, high-energy duet. Bursting with unexpected visual and sonic elements, the work fuses contemporary dance with martial arts, figure skating, rodeo, and more. The result is an inventive, absurd and emotionally resonant performance, moving between joy, tension and technical brilliance. Recently, CUDDLE was awarded Outstanding Creation in Dance at the Green Room Awards, with Harrison Ritchie-Jones also taking home a Breaking Ground Award for his 2024 body of work. 

The second work on the Restore bill is Bell, a new solo performance and the latest instalment in Min Folkdans, an ongoing archival research project and choreographic collection by Wooditjup/Margaret River based artist Adelina Larsson-Mendoza. Drawing on her Swedish-Mexican family history, the work unfolds as a personal, political and historical meditation on the folk dances that have shaped her imagination. A poetic exploration of ancestral memory through movement, sound, and design. 

Together, these works offer audiences an opportunity to experience two distinct choreographic voices. Restore invites a dialogue between artists and communities across regions, encouraging sustainable creative practices and long-term collaboration.  

Now in its second iteration, Restore reflects STRUT Dance and PICA’s shared commitment to environmentally sustainable and accessible performance. With an emphasis on light production design, Restore supports the mobility of independent works and fosters dynamic cultural exchange. 

“Restore is more than a presentation of new dance works – it’s a testament to the power of collaboration, curiosity and care in contemporary art. At PICA, we’re proud to stand alongside artists like Harrison Ritchie-Jones and Adelina Larsson Mendoza, whose practices speak to bold, visionary thinking and deep cultural connection. This partnership with STRUT Dance reflects our commitment to nurturing artists at all stages of their journey, creating space for risk-taking, dialogue and belonging. Together, we’re shaping sustainable pathways for independent artists while offering audiences transformative experiences that reflect the complexity and richness of our times,” said Hannah Mathews, Director/CEO of PICA.

“STRUT Dance is thrilled to partner with PICA on the second iteration of Restore. Each year, we have received over 40 applications from choreographers across the Asia-Pacific region to present their work in this highly coveted presentation opportunity. Restore speaks directly to the need for accessible and fitting performance venues for West Australian dance artists to present their work in and for interstate and international artists, a unique opportunity to travel existing work to the West coast of Australia and share with West Australian audiences for the first time,” said STRUT Dance’s Co-Director, Sofie Burgoyne.

Restore runs 26 -28 June at PICA’s Central Gallery. For tickets and more info, visit https://pica.org.au/whats-on/strut-dance-restore/ 

CUDDLE, Photo by Jo Duck