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Beyond the Tracks is a joyous celebration of First Nations dance pioneer Michael Leslie

34 0
10.07.2026

Beyond the Tracks is a vibrant and deeply moving autobiographical work that fuses dance, movement, song and audiovisual storytelling.

At its centre is Kamilaroi/Mandandanji man Michael Leslie — a dancer, choreographer and cultural force whose life story is as expansive as his artistic legacy. Over 45 fast-paced minutes, what unfolds is not simply a performance, but a lived history, rendered with generosity, humour and unflinching truth

Visually layered, carried by warmth

The show opens with Leslie entering the stage, closely followed by Ursula Yovich, whose presence immediately grounds the work in warmth and familiarity. Yovich narrates and sings throughout, her voice carrying the audience across decades and landscapes.

She doesn’t merely accompany Leslie; she converses with him, teasing out memories and creating a dynamic interplay that feels both intimate and relatable. Their rapport sets the tone for a production that is as much about relationships — to family and community........

© The Conversation