Melbourne has a solid reputation for fostering innovative contemporary dance projects, which is reflected in this year’s Fringe Festival program. The exciting range of Fringe productions on offer include some new works by enthusiastic young choreographers.

Natasha Phillips has been working as a producer on one such work, Towards Transparency: Producing the Self, choreographed by 2013 VCA graduate Chloe Chignell. Phillips describes the show as “an ethereal, almost spiritual piece that explores the pure body, including how space and sound affect an individual”. The focus is on both human and non-human bodies in their surroundings without the variables of identity such as gender or race.

Despite having graduated only two years ago, Chignell has already made her mark on the dance industry. She presented The Summit is Blue, her collaborative work with Timothy Walsh, at Dancehouse in 2014, and helped to initiate Dance Speaks, a series of lectures for dance artists in Melbourne, designed to encourage critical dialogue about dance methodology.

Towards Transparency also features the skills of dancer Leah Landau and sound artist Mitchell Mollison, both young artists who have worked on projects in Australia and overseas.

Natasha Phillips says the show will use a range of choreographic and theatrical devices to take its audience on a “journey through the senses”, and is excited to share the talents of the small team with Melbourne audiences.

Towards Transparency: Producing the Self will be performed at the Warehouse, Fringe Hub on the 26, 27, 29, 30 September and 1-3 October at 7.30pm (6.30pm on Sunday). To book tickets visit www.melbournefringe.com.au or call (03) 9660 9600.