THE National Portrait Gallery is staging a free performance in the Gordon Darling Hall this weekend.

Drawing inspiration from Richard Avedon, Merce Cunningham and Rudolf Nureyev, veteran dance artists Julia Cotton and Anca Frankenhaeuser have created a half hour performance, “Movers and Shakers”.

Julia Cotton began her career as a classical dancer with The Australian Ballet, later joined contemporary dance company Australian Dance Theatre and was a founding member and co-director of visual performance group Etcetera.

For the National Portrait Gallery Julia choreographed Theatre of Image’s “Little Beauty” and for the NGA she directed “Backstage at the Ballets Russes”.

Frankenhaeuser performed with London Contemporary Dance Theatre for fifteen years. . In 2005 she graduated from NIDA with a Master of Dramatic Art, Movement Studies and now works as director/choreographer, as well as lecturer/tutor of movement for actors, contemporary dance & choreography.

“Movers and Shakers,”  Gordon Darling Hall National Portrait Gallery,   Saturday  and Sunday , November 23 and 24, 3-3.30pm.