SEISMIC DANCE PARTY

What does a moving glacier sound like? What does it feel like? Experience the heartbeat of Antarctica's Denman Glacier transformed into an immersive dance party. 

Deep in the ice, AuScope seismometers capture a remarkable symphony: the crack and groan of moving ice, the rush of meltwater, the rumble of storms, the songs of whales, and the tremors of the Earth itself. Using machine learning, University of Tasmania scientists are untangling this complex soundscape, revealing the intricate interactions between ice, ocean, and bedrock, and Denman’s ‘voice’.

Now, sound artist K.Verell and DJ JON SMEATHERS will transform these natural rhythms into an immersive dance track. And for the first time ever in Lutruwita/ Tasmania, participants will have the opportunity to actually feel glacial vibrations through vibro-tactile haptic suits from The Newmarket Collective— creating a full-body experience designed to bring Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing participants into a shared sensory space.

Before the dance party kicks off, you’ll have the chance to hear from the Earth scientists who captured these seismic recordings, and are using them to understand how Antarctica's glaciers are changing. Arrive early for a pre-party chat with scientists from AuScope (including Jo Condon and Dr Sima Mousavi), The University of Tasmania and the Australian National University.

This event is supported by AuScope, Australia’s ‘laboratory’ for Earth and geospatial science research in Australia. AuScope is a non-profit organisation funded by the Department of Education through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

PROFESSOR ANYA READING Anya deploys the most remote seismic detectors on Earth. She records the seismic symphony of cracking and melting ice, revealing the hidden changes that are happening deep within Antarctic glaciers.

DR TOBIAS STÅL Tobias is a geophysicist specialising in Antarctic research. He has a background in sound and light design for theatres around the world.

JON SMEATHERS Jon is a boundary-pushing experimental musician and DJ based in Nipaluna/Hobart, known for projects like Reptrillion Culture Club, Huh!pink, and 𝔈ℭ𝔅.

K VERELL K (Nipaluna/Lutruwita) is a transdisciplinary artist working across sound, image, and object to explore dissonance, signal, and ritual interference.