National Dance Forum program

by Ausdance published on in Careers in dance, Creating dance, Industry news

Opening and closing with interactive visioning sessions, the program featured a full morning 'Open Space' session on the Sunday tapping the pulse of the forum, and through it that of the dance sector in Australia.

Keynote artists-in-conversation were Dalisa Pigram, co-Artistic Director of Marrugeku, with David Pledger, and Artistic Director of Australian Dance Theatre Garry Stewart with Anne Thompson.

Diverse breakout sessions covered panel, presentation, roundtable and screening formats:

  • BlakDance First Nations Dance Panel
  • 'Whose responsibility is it to make sense of this?'
  • Dramaturgy, outside eye or feedback?
  • Virtuosi industry preview screening
  • 'What role dance education play in shaping Australian culture for tomorrow?'
  • Beyond hybridity: current Australia/Asia-Pacific dance practices
  • A Lifetime's Collaboration
  • BETWEEN US: Connections within and beyond the independent dance sector
  • What is dance doing in Australia? And what is Australian dance doing in the world?

The NDF2013 Facilitator was Jeff Khan, co-Director of Performance Space, Sydney. Also joining the NDF2013 team for a number of sessions was Janenne Willis, guest co-facilitator, roving provocateur and catalyst at large. Janenne brought her energy, seasoned facilitation skills and experience co-creating futures one conversation at a time.

Download the full program and list of speakers.

Program overview

Friday 15 March
12:30pm – 2:00pm Registration
2:00pm – 2:30pm Welcome to Country & NDF2013 opening speeches
2:30pm – 4:30pm Introduction: Who's here? Facilitated by Jeff Khan, NDF Facilitator, with Janenne Willis
4:30pm – 5:30pm Forum opening and networking drinks on the lawn overlooking the Maribyrnong River
Saturday 16 March
8:30am – 9:00am Registration
9:00am – 9:15am Introduction to day two – Jeff Khan, NDF Facilitator
9:15am – 10:45am

Breakouts # 1
3 parallel sessions (session enrolments will open in February)

  1. BlakDance First Nations Dance Panel
    Chair: Marilyn Miller | Speakers include: Eric Avery, Tammi Gissell, Gary Lang, Rita Pryce
  2. 'Whose responsibility is it to make sense of this?'
    Chair: Elizabeth Walsh | Speakers: Lee Christofis, Raewyn Hill, Marion Potts, Jake Shackleton and Maija Eränen (Zodiak Festival, Finland)
  3. Dramaturgy, outside eye or feedback?
    Facilitator: Janenne Willis | Provocateurs: Martin del Amo, Rachael Swain
10:45am – 11:15am Morning tea
11:15am – 12:30pm Keynote artist-in-conversation # 1
Dalisa Pigram in conversation with David Pledger
12:30am – 1:45pm Lunch
1:45pm – 3:15pm

Breakouts # 2 (parallel sessions)

  1. Industry preview screening—Virtuosi
    With an introduction from Sue Healey
  2. 'What role does dance education play in shaping Australian culture for tomorrow?’
    Chair: Jeff Meiners | Speakers: Janice Deans, Assoc. Prof. Jenny Kinder, Sue Mullane, Gerard Veltre
  3. Beyond hybridity: current Australia / Asia Pacific dance practices
    Chair: Assoc. Prof. Cheryl Stock | Speakers: Julia Mageau Gray, Annalouise Paul, Ade Suharto, Tony Yap
3:15pm – 3:45pm Afternoon tea
3:45pm – 5:00pm Keynote artist-in-conversation # 2
Garry Stewart in conversation with Anne Thompson
5:00pm – 5:30pm Plenary facilitated by Jeff Khan
Sunday 17 March
9:30am – 12:30pm Open Space session with morning tea break, facilitated by Jeff Khan and Janenne Willis
12:30pm – 1:45pm Lunch
1:45pm – 3:15pm

Breakouts # 3 (parallel sessions)

  1. A Lifetime's Collaboration
    Presented by Steve Jampijinpa Patrick (Lajamanu), David McMicken and Tim Newth (Tracks co-Artistic Directors)
  2. BETWEEN US: Connections within and beyond the independent dance sector
    Chair: Brian Lucas | Speakers: Byron Perry, Kristina Chan, Sam Chester, Paea Leach & Jo Pollitt, Jade Dewi Tyas Tunggal
  3. What is dance doing in Australia? And what is Australian dance doing in the world?
    Facilitator: Janenne Willis | Provocateurs: Phillip Adams, Michael Whaites and Gie Baguet (Frans Brood Productions, Belgium)
3:15pm – 3:45pm Afternoon tea
3:45pm – 5:30pm Postcards from the future
Future visioning session facilitated by Jeff Khan and Janenne Willis, and forum close.