Zoee Marsh is a creative artist, choreographer, director and movement coach, and her work may be recognised across many platforms such as ABC Kids, George Alice, Vera Blue, Neighbours, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and The Australian Open. She talks to Alesha Capone.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Originally from Geelong, I grew up in the area and went to school at Kardinia International College.
I am extremely thankful to KIC for fostering my creativity and supporting my endeavours, without them and my family, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
My work as a creative director and choreographer is seen throughout the music, fashion, film and theatre industries.
I’ve been travelling across the country and the world for the past 10 years, and lived and worked in London for 2.5 years.
I was based in Melbourne, but with the pandemic starting, I decided to move back to Geelong to be with my family.
I’ve had the honour of working with artists such as Vera Blue, George Alice, Motez, Kite String Tangle, Chela, Essie Holt, and Boi to name a few.
I’ve always been creative but I started transitioning from purely movement-based work to directing and conceptualising in the past 18 months.
What is it like being back in Geelong?
It’s refreshing, I came back around June and it’s been a bit of a time-warp being back here full time, especially as I am coming very close to 30, I am finding myself walking along the coastline and in familiar areas reflecting on how much Geelong has given me in my younger years.
My family is very Geelong-oriented with my Mum being a nurse with Epworth and my brother completing Year 12 at Kardinia.
I always try to prioritize my spare time to give back to Geelong.
For example, a few years ago, Fiona Luca (founder of Move with Fiona Luca) and I started a youth arts company called Bind Productions, in which we created workshops, performances, short films and mentoring opportunities for local dancers and performers.
I am thankful to be back here reconnecting with the town.
You also have an idea around activating creativity in Geelong?
It’s currently an idea that is living on my computer, but basically it is to digitally activate Geelong by showcasing video footage in empty shop fronts, as a way to activate that space under stage three restrictions or whatever stage restrictions we end up under in the future.
I think it would be a great avenue to show Geelong and the Surf Coast’s many creative talents and to document them in areas while they are empty, such as 360 degree footage of a dancer enjoying dancing on stage alone at the Geelong Arts Centre or a singer performing solo at one of the great local roof-top bars.
This footage could then be shown on a screen or projected in an empty shop, for people to enjoy when walking down the street in facemask and feeling alone.
It gives the community a moment to stop and go, ‘Okay, this is temporary, but in the future we will be able to experience these creative things again.’
There are just so many beautiful places in Geelong we could film at to create digital assets for the community.
That’s just something I would particularly love to do – not just in Geelong, but for empty shops in Belmont and North Geelong and other areas too.
I am currently applying for a local grant and if successful I will get the ball moving to also provide more creative work for locals in the arts, especially during this challenging time.
You’ve recently co-directed and choreographed a music video in Geelong?
Yes we did, it was so much fun. I teamed up with Tones & I’s music video director, Liam Kelly, to create a high energy and fun music video for a brand new RNB act, who is in fact originally from Geelong.
Keep your eyes peeled for new music coming from ‘Antoine’.
It was a very Geelong-based creative team, music production by John Servid who runs Inhouse Create on Little Malop, and artist management by Jamie-Rose Fowler from Torquay.
The track will also be released in two days (August 6) across all digital streaming platforms and the music video not far off.
How has COVID-19 impacted your work?
At the beginning it impacted my work quite heavily as most of my work lands in the music industry, so with that being affected heavily, work was dry.
But thankfully my immediate work circle got creative and we figured out many ways to continue creating remotely.
One very fun project was with George Alice (Triple J Unearthed winner 2019). I am very honoured to work creatively with George Alice and during the first isolation we created a new music video, all filmed in isolation for her latest single Stuck In a Bubble – her manager, Jamie-Rose Fowler, is also from Torquay.
We shot, styled, rehearsed and did everything required remotely via platforms such as Zoom and FaceTime. It was a really fun experience to do whilst in isolation and we are so proud of the product.
Since you were at school, what changes have you noticed in Geelong?
I feel Geelong has had so much growth, just look at Little Malop Street, it is so alive and energetic.
The hospitality culture has grown hugely and there has also been a definite growth in the town’s population, or so it feels from my point of view.
I love that Geelong still has a nice balance between city and country! I hope everyone living in the Geelong region can continue to live safely and have access to the support they may need.
We are so lucky to have that beautiful coast just down the road so it is important that we respect our surroundings and each other during these challenging times.
