CASE STUDY

Motus Collective

Motus Collective was formed in 2019 by Adelaide College of the Arts graduates, Zoe Gay and Felicity Boyd.

The dance collective was formed out of a desire to create a sense of community, to foster collaborations, expand performance opportunities, and to create a revenue of exploration and experimentation. Motus Collective began their journey hosting Improvisation and ‘Jam Sessions’, before expanding into the choreographic world conducting residencies through Australian Dance Theatre, The Mill, VitalStatistix and more. With a heavy importance being placed on inter-disciplinary collaboration, Motus Collective have worked extensively within the visual arts world including performing with Tom Borgas and Amber Cronin in ‘HyperObject’, created in Arthur Art Bar’s ‘SA LA LA LAND’ program, worked with Fine Print Magazine in their live response to ‘If the future is to be worth anything’, performed Hiromi Tango’s ‘Brain Flower’ at Splendour in The Grass, and more recently collaborated with eDuard Helmbold in ‘Elegy of The Pale Lion’ for VitalStatistix.

Most recently, Motus Collective presented The Leftover’s at the Space Theatre to critical acclaim, produced in collaboration with Adelaide Festival Centre. In 2025 and 2026, Motus Collective is focusing on building the independent sector within South Australia, by starting weekly free classes for professional dancers, and a monthly newsletter highlighting funding opportunities, classes and workshops happening within the State.

MOTUS COLLECTIVE | WHITE RHINO. PHOTO: FELICTY BOYD
MOTUS COLLECTIVE | WHITE RHINO. PHOTO: FELICTY BOYD

Funding from Helpmann allowed us to continue to create opportunities for local independent dancers, visual artists and musicians. We are incredibly excited and thankful to have been supported by Helpmann in our process of creation.

Motus Collective, Creative Innovator Program 2022 eNVISION incubator recipient.
CAREER PROGRESSION & HELPMANN SUPPORT
  1. 2018

    Both receive the ilDance professional development opportunity in Sweden. They joined dancers from all around the world for this unique masterclass Value: $17,000

  2. 2018

    Felicity receives a Helpmann Academy grant to attend a private secondment with Dancenorth, QLD Value: $1,312.30

  3. 2018

    Felicity attends the Niv Marinberg Masterclass

  4. 2019

    Felicity receives a Helpmann Academy grant to travel to Turin, Italy for a two week workshop, then a solo intensive in Vienna, Austria under the mentorship of Eldad Ben Sasson (Batsheva Dance Company) Value: $1,612

  5. 2020

    Both receive a Helpmann Academy grant to support Adelaide Fringe Festival showing in 2021  Value: $2,966.25

  6. Motus Collective are selected to be Share House residents at Carclew, where they produced Open House

    2021
  7. Motus Collective premiere White Rhino in the Adelaide Fringe

    2021
  8. Motus Collective win the Adelaide Fringe Best Emerging Artist Award for White Rhino

    2021
  9. Motus Collective premiere The Leftovers

    2022
    2022

    Zoe receives a Helpmann Academy Elevate Mentorship with Lee Brummer Value: $1,500

  10. Motus Collective are part of the Adelaide Festival program InSpace, developing Trifle

    2022
    2022

    Felicity participates in the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program, an incubator for creative entrepreneurship Value: $18,000

  11. Motus Collective are selected as the f irst dance-based Carclew Sharehouse Residents

    2022
    2022

    Felicity receives funding as part of the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program Value: $2,000

  12. Motus Collective present Open House, a sold-out season at Arthur Art Bar

    2022

    Both receive the eNVISON incubator opportunity with Flinders University as part of the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Value: $5,000

  13. Motus Collective presents The Leftovers at the Adelaide Fringe

    2023
    2022

    Felicity receives a Helpmann Academy grant to support the production, choreography and presentation of new work The Leftovers Value: $3,000

  14. Motus Collective presents The Leftovers at the Space Theatre, produced in collaboration with Adelaide Festival Centre

    2024
  15. Motus Collective travel to Perth (supported by The Mill and Strut Dance) to further develop and present Trifle, and run community workshops and classes

    2025
  16. Motus Collective establishes a weekly independently-run professional level dance class in SA and publish a monthly newsletter Motus Monthly

    2025
  17. $52K +

    value in support and
    opportunities from
    Helpmann Academy

  1. 2018

    Both receive the ilDance professional development opportunity in Sweden. They joined dancers from all around the world for this unique masterclass Value: $17,000

  2. 2018

    Felicity receives a Helpmann Academy grant to attend a private secondment with Dancenorth, QLD Value: $1,312.30

  3. 2018

    Felicity attends the Niv Marinberg Masterclass

  4. 2019

    Felicity receives a Helpmann Academy grant to travel to Turin, Italy for a two week workshop, then a solo intensive in Vienna, Austria under the mentorship of Eldad Ben Sasson (Batsheva Dance Company) Value: $1,612

  5. 2020

    Both receive a Helpmann Academy grant to support Adelaide Fringe Festival showing in 2021  Value: $2,966.25

  6. 2021

    Motus Collective are selected to be Share House residents at Carclew, where they produced Open House

  7. 2021

    Motus Collective premiere White Rhino in the Adelaide Fringe

  8. 2021

    Motus Collective win the Adelaide Fringe Best Emerging Artist Award for White Rhino

  9. 2022

    Motus Collective premiere The Leftovers

  10. 2022

    Zoe receives a Helpmann Academy Elevate Mentorship with Lee Brummer Value: $1,500

  11. 2022

    Motus Collective are part of the Adelaide Festival program InSpace, developing Trifle

  12. 2022

    Felicity participates in the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program, an incubator for creative entrepreneurship Value: $18,000

  13. 2022

    Motus Collective are selected as the f irst dance-based Carclew Sharehouse Residents

  14. 2022

    Felicity receives funding as part of the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Program Value: $2,000

  15. 2022

    Motus Collective present Open House, a sold-out season at Arthur Art Bar

  16. 2022

    Felicity receives a Helpmann Academy grant to support the production, choreography and presentation of new work The Leftovers Value: $3,000

  17. 2023

    Motus Collective presents The Leftovers at the Adelaide Fringe

  18. 2024

    Motus Collective presents The Leftovers at the Space Theatre, produced in collaboration with Adelaide Festival Centre

  19. 2025

    Motus Collective travel to Perth (supported by The Mill and Strut Dance) to further develop and present Trifle, and run community workshops and classes

  20. 2025

    Motus Collective establishes a weekly independently-run professional level dance class in SA and publish a monthly newsletter Motus Monthly

  21. Both receive the eNVISON incubator opportunity with Flinders University as part of the Helpmann Academy Creative Innovator Value: $5,000

  22. $52K +

    value in support and
    opportunities from
    Helpmann Academy