"One for Sorrow, Two for Joy comes from an old rhyme," says Greig. "My grandmother used to say it whenever she saw a flock of crows."

Based on that idea, Greig invited some of the country's best choreographers to take a line from the rhyme and interpret it themselves.

The first piece, One for Sorrow, was created by Raewyn Hill who based the piece on Tasmania's convict past and the imprisonment of people under repressive regimes.

"She researched repressive regimes worldwide and found it was about removing all sensory elements," Greig says.

"Prisoners were kept in darkness and didn't have a lot of sounds. Even the guards had to wear shoes that didn't make noises if they came into the cells. And if they [the prisoners] came out of the cells they had to wear hats which covered their faces. So the opening piece is really powerful and the dancer does it with a blindfold on the whole time."

The next piece, Two for Sorrow, is more physically challenging. "Trisha Dunn has created a kaleidoscope of movement. The piece explores the emotions of joy, grief and the fragility of happiness through various acts of rolling, spinning and flying in the air."

The other pieces, Three for a Girl, Four for a Boy, Five for Silver and Six for Gold also highlight the dancers' ability. "Each choreographer is going to bring something quite different for the audience," Greig says. "So expect a whole range of things throughout the program."

One for Sorrow, Two for Joy will be performed at the Knox Community Arts Centre, cnr of Scoresby Road and Mountain Highway in Bayswater on June 4 at 8 pm. Bookings: 97297287.