Neon Dance heads to RISING Festival with evocative work showcasing contemporary dance innovation

Once Dance UK member Neon Dance is preparing for a major international milestone this June with the Australian première of Last and First Men at Melbourne’s celebrated RISING Festival - a landmark that further cements high-quality contemporary dance within the global festival circuit.

A major platform for arts and culture across the Asia-Pacific, RISING Festival is a bold, boundary-pushing event renowned for platforming risk-taking work and uncompromising artistic voices. This year’s edition features 65 events, 327 artists, 15 new commissions and nine world premières, drawing creators and audiences from around the globe. Neon Dance’s invitation marks an important moment for the dance sector, showcasing how ambitious, genre-defying work is being championed on the international stage.

RISING Co-Artistic Director Gideon Obarzanek commented: "At RISING, we’re drawn to artists who challenge form and provoke reflection. Last and First Men does exactly that. Neon Dance has created an evocative, deeply cinematic experience that merges movement, film, and sound in startling ways. We're thrilled to present its Australian premiere as part of this year’s festival."

Following critically acclaimed, sold-out performances at Rewire Festival (The Hague) and CTM Festival (Berlin), Last and First Men will be performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre - a significant moment for Artistic Director Adrienne Hart’s Swindon-founded company, which continues to build a reputation for visionary, interdisciplinary work.

"We are incredibly proud to be taking Last and First Men to the other side of the world,” said Hart. “This work speaks deeply to global conversations about humanity’s future, and it feels especially meaningful to be presenting it in an international context."

Set in a distant future where humankind faces extinction, Last and First Men blends live dance, original film, and a score by the late Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson. Haunting narration by Tilda Swinton and cutting-edge costume design by artist and sculptor Dr Ana Rajcevic intensify the performers’ transformation into otherworldly figures. The production’s interdisciplinary approach invites audiences to reflect on environmental collapse, human evolution, and the fragile legacies of civilisation.

Recognised as a specialist in immersive, boundary-blurring performance, Neon Dance continues to forge a path for the future of the artform - blending dance with visual art, sound and new technology to create powerful, emotionally resonant experiences.

Following its journey to Australia, Neon Dance will return to the UK and EU  tour dates, supported by Arts Council England.  Follow Neon Dance or sign up for updates to stay informed.

Last and First Men was created with support from CTM Festival Berlin, Sadler’s Wells, Swindon Dance, and Pavilion Dance South West, with funding from Arts Council England.