Rachael Jennings

The Australian Youth Dance Festival reflects Ausdance’s philosophy on dance education for young people—it should be non-competitive, accessible, meet educational, ethical and safe dance standards, and have potential to develop audiences of the future.

Ausdance National's 2017 in review: 

—Ausdance membership nominates a new Ausdance National Council
—published Exploring identities in dance—international dance education research collection
—prepared advocacy and submissions
—produced Safe Dance Report IV: Investigating injuries in Australia’s professional dancers
—celebrated Ausdance's 40th anniversary
—presented National Dance Forum in partnership with Ausdance Victoria
—coordinated 2017 Australian Dance Awards nominations
—awarded Ausdance Peggy van Praagh Choreographic Fellowship to Kristina Chan

It's been described as the most significant platform for dialogue across the Australian contemporary dance sector. For two days, escape the isolation and immerse yourself in discussion, debate, networking, new ideas and reflection on artistic practice.

Australian arts and health organisations, publications, conferences, research and workshops (2014).

In 2014, our Australian dance companies have been working on some brave and surprising collaborations that foster health, wellbeing and social change. In 2014 KAGE will premiereTeam of Life at the Melbourne Festival, Bangarra collaborated with beyondblue to create the short film Stories for Keeping Strong—Bangarra Rekindling, Shaun Parker collaborated with multicultural urban youth to create The Yard, which tackles loneliness, competition, survival and bullying, Australian Dance Theatre's work Proximity inspired a new approach to stroke rehabilitation, and BalletLab created a work about AIDS with community participants and the Victorian AIDs Council.

More than 25 Australian’s will travel to the 2014 World Dance Alliance Global Summit to talk, perform and share the latest in dance thinking and practice-led research. You’ll find some terrific tools and ideas that might change the way you approach your own creative or teaching practice, or inspire you to try something new.

Australian participants in International Young Choreographer Project share the challenges and surprises of producing a work in unknown circumstances, in a limited time-frame, and with unfamiliar dancers. Learn how it changed their choreographic and artistic processes.

Slow touring expresses a desire (from artists, communities, tour presenters and funding bodies) for audiences to experience a deeper engagement with a touring performance, often through activities such as skill sharing (e.g., workshops, residencies, exchanges and collaborations) and collaboration on creative projects (e.g., recreating the work for/with local audiences). We highlight Shiver by Danielle Micich, a 2012 West Australian dance tour that successfully managed and delivered community engagement activities.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens each day of the festival, this video diary from the last AYDF gives you a taste of the festival experience. How does it feel to perform in a professional theatre before your peers? What type of dance will we make with the choreographic mentors? What are the other dancers like? What will I learn? What is site-specific performance? What is it like being a choreographic mentor? Young dancers and their choreographic mentors answer these questions and more.

Festival participants and choreographic mentors discuss movement, meaning, collaboration and site-specific performance.