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Creating dance

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    The Niche Series

    by Shirley McKechnie originally published on

    Overview of the Niche Series, a body of work created by choreographer Sue Healey during 2002 – 2003. It demonstrates how one choreographer meets the challenges posed by new technologies and conflicting demands.

    Movement as metaphor: the construction of meaning in the choreographic art

    by Shirley McKechnie originally published on

    The manipulation of elements in time for the purpose of creating works of art is common to practitioners in both music and dance. This paper discusses the creation of a contemporary dance work and the ways in which the abstraction of images in modes other than verbal language can present challenges for audiences. In music these issues are not usually clouded by notions of representation as they are in dance. The author discusses the manipulation of abstract qualities in music and dance, presents images on screen and asks “What can dances communicate”. Several important themes arise from the documentation in video and daily journals of a three-year research project funded by the Australian Research Council. The most encompassing of these are the ever-changing dynamic relationships that exist between the choreographer, the dancers, and the ideas and actions which are generated by their interchange. Communication in this context occurs in many modes and is central to the creation of the original work discussed in this case study.

    Medico manoeuvres

    by Skye Murtagh originally published on

    Skye Murtagh, of SDM Communications describes how movement and music prove a potent therapy for patients in Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide

    Tracks dance company

    by Tracks

    Co-artistic directors, David McMicken and Tim Newth give us an insight into the rich cultural context and its impact on Tracks Dance Company in Australia’s Northern Territory

    Big sticks—masters and apprentices

    by Katrina Rank originally published on

    Dr Katrina Rank, Manager of Education and Training for Ausdance Victoria, outlines the guidelines developed in Australia to support effective and safe dance practice in schools and communities

    The rise and rise of community dance

    by Michelle Silby originally published on

    Michelle Silby, independent arts consultant based in Sydney and working in the UK and Australia, sets out some of the current developments in community dance in Australia

    Dancing te moana: interdisciplinarity in Oceania

    by Ojeya Cruz Banks originally published on

    This seed for this article began at a conference at the University of Otago where there was much debate about the connections between, and the definitions of, 'interdisciplinarity' and 'interculturalism' within the Oceania context. The featured dance ethnography investigates the creative process and somatic philosophies of the Atamira Dance Company.

    Body commons: toward an interdisciplinary study of the somatic spectacular

    by Geoffery Kohe & Joshua Newman originally published on

    Kohe and Newman investigate the parallels between sport and dance studies and also consider the emerging discipline called 'physical cultural studies'. They suggest that an intercourse between study of dance and study of sport "could provide novel methodological, theoretical, and metaphysical spaces which transcend disciplinary moorings."

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    Projects

    Shaping the Landscape—Celebrating Dance in Australia

    This, the fourth book in the series Celebrating Dance in Asia and the Pacific, explores the current dance scene in Australia from a wide perspective that mirrors the creative engagement of artists with Australian culture and the landscape.

    2011 National Dance Forum

    Some of Australia’s most exciting dancers, choreographers, curators, critics and collaborators met to discuss and reflect on the state of dance practice in Australia now, and to chart a course for the future.

    Publications

    Australian guidelines for teaching dance

    originally published on

    The Australian guidelines for teaching dance outlines codes of ethical and professional behaviour and emphasises the importance of safe dance practice and teaching methodology.

    We designed it to help dance teachers and students by providing minimum standards, and by suggesting ways teachers can maintain or upgrade their teaching skills. Parents can use the Guidelines  to help choose a dancing school or group for their children.

    Choreographic cognition: Researching dance 1999 – 2008

    by Catherine Stevens
    An overview of the three linked choreographic cognition research projects Unspoken Knowledges (1999 – 2001), which looked at expanding industry productivity and value through strategic research into choreographic practice, Conceiving Connections (2002 – 2004), which looked at increasing industry viability through analysis of audience response to dance and Intention and Serendipity (2005 – 2008), which investigated improvisation, symbolism and memory in creating Australian contemporary dance.

    Dance dialogues: Conversations across cultures, artforms and practices

    by Cheryl Stock originally published on

    These Proceedings, arising from the 2008 World Dance Alliance Global Summit, reflect both its spirit and diversity, re-appraising what dance is and might be in the 21st century. Through 53 papers from 14 countries in the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the authors—ranging from seasoned scholars to emerging artists publishing for the first time—span the perspectives of academics, educators, performance and community artists, health professionals and cognitive scientists; predominantly from dance but also from film, visual arts, science, performance and philosophy.

    Brolga 33

    Issue: 33 by Amanda Card originally published on

    This edition of Brolga brings together the thoughts and ideas of a collection of dance makers who are writing about their craft.

    Conceiving connections—further choreographic research

    by Catherine Stevens, Robin Grove & Shirley McKechnie originally published on

    The Conceiving Connections project investigated how audiences respond to highly evolved dance-works. What elements encourage audiences to respond to dance works with insight, pleasure and understanding? How do previous knowledge, experience, and information about new works affect audience responses? What can we discover about the relationship between cognitive, aesthetic, emotional and kinaesthetic responses to particular dance works?

    News / Blog / Press Releases / Events View all

    ‘Dance, Young People & Change’—program details now online

    by Ausdance & World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific published on

    The organisers of the Taipei festival Dance, Young People & Change have just announced an exciting program of performances, masterclasses, forums and keynote addresses by some of the world's leading youth dance practitioners.

    There is still time to register for this first-ever international youth dance festival co-hosted by the World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific and dance and the Child international (daCi).

    It's a must for all young dancers, and the choreographers, companies, youth dance leaders, teachers and administrators who work with them.

    ‘Shades of us’—a stunning AYDF finale

    by Julie Dyson published on

    It was fantastic to be able to join the Ausdance NSW team, the choreographers and more than 150 young people from all over Australia on the last day of the Australian Youth Dance Festival at NAISDA Dance College in Gosford NSW.

    Shades of Us, presented in Mt Penang Gardens on the final evening, was a performance that grew out of an intensive week of creative development with choreographers Sue Healey, Philip Channells, Anton, Kay Armstrong, Matt Cornel, Adelina Larsson, Lee Pemberton, Vicki Van Hout and artistic director Rowan Marchingo.

    Communities making dance in Tasmania

    by Ausdance & Tasdance published on

    Tasmanian Regional Arts (TRA) is leading The Dance Project in partnership with Mature Artists Dance Experience (MADE), Bust a Move and Tasdance.

    This community dance project is happening in three Tasmanian regions—the North East, North West and the South—to develop and present three new contemporary dance works with, by and about communities. Evolving from the heart of each community, these works explore place, kinship and identity as experienced by the residents of these regions.

    Australian Youth Dance Festival scholarship winners

    by Ausdance & Ausdance NSW published on

    Congratulations to the young people chosen for a scholarship to this year's Youth Dance Festival. All winners receive a week of intensive dance tuition at AYDF and a 1yr subscription to Dance Australia.

    To win an AYDF scholarship, the dancers uploaded a video of themselves dancing, with a short clip of their teacher/mentor saying why their student should come to AYDF.

    Here are some of the winners...

    2013 Caroline Plummer fellowship in community dance

    by Ausdance published on

    The Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance is open to any New Zealand or international community dance practitioner, teacher or researcher. Applicants need not possess a university degree or diploma, any other educational or professional qualification, or belong to any association or organisation of dancers.

    Download an application form

    Deadline for applications: 1 June 2012

    Building the Indigenous contemporary dance collection

    by Ausdance & National Library of Australia published on

    Ever since we convened the 2005 Creating Pathways national Indigenous dance forum in Canberra, Lee Christofis—one of the keynote speakers, and now curator of dance at the National Library of Australia—has been keen to develop the NLA's Indigenous dance collection.

    In the March 2012 edition of National Library News, Lee discusses some of the material now held in the collection and outlines the importance of its provenance.

    Building the Indigenous contemporary dance collection makes fascinating reading for anyone interested in the development of Australian contemporary Indigenous dance.

    More evidence that dance benefits the elderly

    by Julie Dyson published on

    There are some startling new figures that support dancing as a protective strategy in preventing dementia. A Stanford University report Use It or Lose It: Dancing Makes You Smarter makes the following comparisons:

    ... almost none of the physical activities appeared to offer any protection against dementia. There can be cardiovascular benefits of course, but the focus of this study was the mind. There was one important exception: the only physical activity to offer protection against dementia was frequent dancing.

    • Reading—35% reduced risk of dementia
    • Bicycling and swimming—0%
    • Doing crossword puzzles at least four days a week—47%
    • Playing golf—0%
    • Dancing frequently—76%.

    The same university offers other insights into the benefits of dance in Thoughts, philosophies and musings on social dance, a useful reference for community dance practitioners in Australia.

    Australia Council opportunities

    by Ausdance published on

    The Australia Council has some exciting new initiatives on offer this year—

    • 2012 Music and Dance Initiative
    • Western Australia Contemporary Dance Initiative

    New research with dance and the elderly

    by Julie Dyson published on

    New research by the University of Western Sydney is demonstrating that folk dance has clear benefits for the health of the elderly. You may have missed this great report from the ABC’s 7.30 program on 4 January.

    We’re very interested in research that proves the links between dance and health, and have been in touch with the researchers to find out more. We’ll keep you posted.

    Registrations now open for ‘Dance, Young People & Change’

    by Ausdance & World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific published on

    It's time now to register for 'Dance, Young People & Change'. This is an international event where youth dance practitioners and educators can share ideas about the relevance of dance in young people's lives and in communities.

    There will be an amazing program of performances, workshops, master classes and panel discussions for people of all ages, hosted by Taipei National University of the Arts from July 14—20 2012.

    'Dance, Young People & Change' will be the World Dance Alliance Global Summit, held in partnership with dance and the Child international (daCi).

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