Philippa Cullen facts for kids

Philippa Ann Cullen (born March 24, 1950 – died July 3, 1975) was an amazing Australian dancer. She was also a choreographer, teacher, and performance artist. Philippa was known for her new and exciting dance shows. She used a special musical instrument called a theremin in her performances. She also created "movement-sensitive floors." These floors could react to dancers' movements. From the late 1960s to 1974, she taught dance in many places. This included locations in Australia and other countries. Her most important classes were held on Sunday mornings. They took place at Sydney University. Dancers, actors, musicians, and artists attended these classes.

Early Life and Dance Training

Philippa Cullen was born in Melbourne, Australia. When she was eight, she started dancing. She became a student at the Bodenwieser Dance Studio in Sydney. During her dance studies, she performed in many shows. These were choreographed by famous dancers like Margaret Chapple and Keith Bain. She also appeared in Bain's Primitive Suite. Philippa graduated from Sydney University in 1970. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Innovative Dance and Technology

Philippa performed her dances all over Sydney. She danced at places like Hogarth Galleries. She also performed at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Her main goal was to "free dancers." She wanted them to create their own music as they danced. She explored new ways to combine dance with electronic devices.

Her first show with a theremin was in 1972. She worked with composer Greg Schiemer. Electrical engineer Phil Connor and student Manuel Nobleza also helped. Their show was called Homage to Theremin II. It used four theremins of different shapes and sizes. Each theremin had its own antenna. This allowed Philippa and her dancers to make their own sounds. Her most famous works are Utter and Lightless.

Studying Abroad and Collaborations

In 1972, Philippa received a grant. It was from the Australia Council for the Arts. This money helped her travel to the UK and Europe. She also visited Africa, Nepal, and India. She studied at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen. At the Institute of Sonology in Utrecht, she learned about electronics. She also studied mathematics and computer composition. Here, she developed her ideas for pressure-sensitive floors.

Philippa met composer Karlheinz Stockhausen in 1970. They worked together from 1972 to 1974. She helped create the choreography for Inori. This was a meditative dance piece. In it, a dancer led an orchestra. They used prayer-like hand gestures called Mudras. In July 1973, she and her dance group performed with theremins. This performance was at the Oeldorf Group.

Performances in Australia

Philippa returned to Australia in early 1974. She organized a long Seminar in Sydney. It was held at the Central Street Gallery. Dancers and musicians performed there. Later that year, she performed in Melbourne. She also put on the 24-Hour Concert in Sydney. This event included a long chess game and a tea ceremony. In early 1975, she performed in Canberra. This was part of the Australia 75 arts exhibition. She also performed at the Sculpture Triennial in Mildura.

Legacy and Influence

Philippa Cullen passed away on July 3, 1975. She was 25 years old. She died in Kodaikanal, India. This was due to problems after an emergency appendectomy.

Her work continues to inspire others. In 2016, an exhibition about her was held. It was called Dancing the music: Philippa Cullen 1950–75. She is also featured in the Know My Name exhibition. This is at the National Gallery of Australia. A book about her, The Dancer – A Biography for Philippa Cullen, was published in 2021. Philippa's movement-sensitive floors are now at the University of Adelaide. They have inspired many young dancers and choreographers. This includes the Utter Stories Team.