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Ausdance National 2019 AGM

The 2019 Annual General Meeting for Ausdance National was held on Friday 15 March 2019 from 10.00 – 11.30 am at The Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre, Level 6, 2 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, Melbourne VIC. 

The agenda, minutes, proxy form, membership information, annual report and names of the elected eight-member national council are available below. 

Ausdance National as your peak sector organisation continues to drive important advocacy work to support the sector especially as we head toward an upcoming election. Much of the work we do is unseen and invisible but Ausdance National continues to drive support for the sector and lobby for increased investment across the sector.

 

ELECTED MEMBERS NATIONAL COUNCIL 

  • President: Professor Gene Moyle, Associate Dean, International and Advancement and Creative Industries Faculty, QUT Creative Industries
  • Vice President: Helene George, Managing Director, Creative Economy
  • Vice President: Annette Carmichael, Dance Artist / Creative Producer
  • Treasurer: Libby Walsh, Development Manager, Vicinity 
  • Board Member: Jacob Boehme, Artist & founding Director of Yirramboi First Nationals Arts Festival
  • Board Member: Simon Hinton, Artistic Director / CEO Merrigong Theatre Company
  • Board Member: Colm O'Callaghan, Executive Producer, Force Majeure
  • National Advisory: Simon Owen, President, Ausdance WA Group Representative

2019 AGM papers

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2019 Australian Dance Awards cancelled

Media release

15 February 2019 

​Ausdance National regrettably announces the cancellation of the 2019 Australian Dance Awards.

Shrinking government funding for Ausdance National has resulted in reduced staffing and financial reserves that has led to this decision.

Ausdance National has produced the Australian Dance Awards for twenty-one years. The awards recognize, celebrate and honor dance artists and industry professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the Dance Sector.

The Awards began as a Dancers Picnic to celebrate International Dance Day, and have since grown into a significant event that has been hosted around the country at major performing arts venues.

With a review of the organisation’s priorities, Ausdance National has decided to suspend the Australian Dance Awards in their current form. This will allow for a much-needed review of the current processes and systems and determine the on-going viability of the Awards program.

The decision to cancel the Awards is part of a larger review of Ausdance.

“Ausdance National will lead a process of collaboration with key stakeholders to develop the best model for a sustainable Ausdance Network across Australia” said Gene Moyle, Ausdance National President.

“While we understand the Dance Sector will be disappointed with the cancellation of the 2019 Australian Dance Awards, we are excited to continue our partnership with Tracks Dance Company to present the National Dance Forum in Darwin, 9 – 10 August 2019. We hope the Sector will come out in force for these important discussions.”

The National Dance Forum is a biennial gathering of the Dance Sector to inspire rigorous debate and reflection about dance in Australia.

Ends

Media Enquires: Kathy Baykitch, Ausdance National, [email protected] or 0414 698 228.

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Helene George joins the Ausdance National Board

The Australian Dance Council, the national peak body for dance, is pleased to announce its new board member, Helene George—a recognised specialist in sustainable development and the strategic development of cultural and creative industries.

Board President Professor Gene Moyle announced the board appointment this week and said, ‘Ms George started out in dance and has had an extensive career across the arts, cultural and creative sectors. Her leadership in the creative economy and specialist skill set in assisting organisations to reshape and transform to achieve sustainability is a great and timely addition to the Board’.

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Change of leadership at Ausdance National

MEDIA RELEASE 24 September 2018

Ausdance National is pleased to announce the appointment of Kathy Baykitch as Executive Director following the resignation of Kerry Comerford.

Ausdance National is Australia’s peak body for dance advocacy, delivering national projects including the Australian Dance Awards and the biannual National Dance Forum. It represents the Australian dance sector on national policy issues including immigration, education and health.

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2018 Australian Dance Awards winners

The annual Australian Dance Awards recognise and honour professional Australian dance artists who have made an outstanding contribution to Australian dance. The Australian Dance Awards are produced by the Australian Dance Council—Ausdance National.

Presented by Ausdance National and Harlequin Floors, the 2018 Australian Dance Awards were held on Saturday 8 September at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

Congratulations to the winners and the shortlisted nominees! And the winners are....

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Foxtel Arts is a 2018 Australian Dance Awards sponsor!

Ausdance National is pleased to announce Foxtel Arts as a 2018 sponsor of the Australian Dance Awards.

Foxtel Arts (Channel 133 on Foxtel), a subscription television arts channel on the Foxtel platform, showcases arts performance and factual insights into art, artists and their creative achievements.

A first-time supporter of the Australian Dance Awards, Foxtel Arts has created an inspiring 30-second CTV for the Awards and has sponsored the award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media.

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MEAA sponsors Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer

Ausdance National is pleased to announce the continued support of Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) as an Australian Dance Awards sponsor.

MEAA is the largest and most established union and industry advocate for Australia’s creative professionals, and this year it has sponsored the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer.

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We are launching our new branding across the Ausdance network!

Ausdance logo The new Ausdance visual brand has been designed by Brisbane-based design firm Designfront.

It is with great excitement that we announce the launch of our new branding across the Ausdance network! This new brand represents a strong and ambitious future for Ausdance. A future built on a legacy of national advocacy and the delivery of exceptional dance projects throughout Australia. 

Over the next few months you will start to notice that we will commence updating our websites and other publications to reflect the new visual brand. We look forward to continuing to support, represent, and advance the wonderful sector that is dance in Australia.

Professor Gene Moyle, President, Ausdance National.

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Apply for Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year Program 2019

Calling all aspiring professional dancers aged 18–24 years, applications are now open for Sydney Dance Company's Pre-Professional Year 2019.

“Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year is an outstanding opportunity for aspiring dancers to gain exposure to Australia’s leading contemporary dance company. Pre-professional dancers will develop all the skills essential for a lifelong career in contemporary dance as well as being provided with unique professional development, networking and mentorship opportunities under the guidance of the artistic staff of Sydney Dance Company.” Rafael Bonachela, Artistic Director, Sydney Dance Company

Key information

Applications are
 open to Australian and New Zealand citizens or permanent residents only.

Application closing date: 
Monday 27 August 2018 

Audition: The first round of Pre-Professional Year auditions will be an online application process that includes a video submission.

Successful first round applicants will be invited to a second round in-person audition at Sydney Dance Company Studios on 17 September 2018 between 9am and 6pm.

For more information please visit 2019 Pre-Professional Year Audition Application.

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Congratulations to the shortlisted nominees of the 21st Australian Dance Awards

Celebrating 21 years, the Australian Dance Awards is one of the country’s most prestigious performing arts awards. The Awards acknowledge people working in the professional dance sector who have made innovative and exceptional work of national significance, or have made an outstanding and enduring contribution to the dance industry.

‘Arriving at the shortlist is a demanding job for the volunteer panel of 13 dance sector professionals representing all states and territories’, said Julie Dyson, nominations coordinator for the 2018 Australian Dance Awards.

‘Panel members include educators, independent artists, dance company directors, and writers/reviewers. We receive between 450 and 700 nominations each year. A thorough voting system is in place, with two, sometimes three rounds of voting.’

Presented by Ausdance National, the 2018 awards will take place on Saturday 8 September at the Brisbane Powerhouse, with tickets on sale from 9 July.

‘Ausdance National is honoured to present the 21st Australian Dance Awards in partnership with industry sponsors’, said Kerry Comerford, Executive Director of Ausdance National. ‘The Awards ceremony is the time we acknowledge and celebrate the dance profession’s depth and diversity, both on and off the stage.’

Presented in an afternoon of performances showcasing some of Australia’s best dance of the past year, the annual Australian Dance Awards rely on the generosity and goodwill of the dance sector. ‘It’s important that the event represents the excellence and diversity of dance in Australia’ said Sandi Woo, 2018 Award’s producer.

2018 Australian Dance Awards shortlist

Services to Dance

  • Philippe Charluet
  • Marilyn Miller
  • Philip Piggin
  • Hilary Trotter

Services to Dance Education

  • Paige Gordon
  • Raewyn Hill
  • Sinsa Mansell
  • Katrina Rank

Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance

  • Annette Carmichael (choreography), James Gentle (sound design) for The Beauty Index
  • Tracks Dance for Man Made
  • QPAC, The Royal Ballet and Community Groups for We All Dance
  • Sprung!! Integrated Dance Theatre for Share House

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance

  • Austinmer Dance Theatre for UNREAL
  • Co3 for Project next
  • QL2 Dance for This Poisoned Sea
  • Moorambilla Voices for Gundabooka

Outstanding Performance by a Company

  • Co3 for The Zone
  • Dancenorth Attractor
  • STRUT Dance for William Forsythe's One Flat Thing, Reproduced
  • Queensland Ballet for Raw (triple bill): No Man’s Land, Glass Concerto and Ghost Dances

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography

  • Lucy Guerin and Gideon Obarzanek for Attractor (Dancenorth and Lucy Guerin Inc)
  • Raewyn Hill for The Zone (Co3)
  • Stephanie Lake for Pile of Bones (Stephanie Lake Company)
  • Stephen Page for Bennelong (2017) (Bangarra Dance Theatre)

Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance

  • Martin del Amo for CHAMPIONS
  • Australian Dance Artists for Restraint(s)
  • Michelle Heaven for In Plan
  • Nick Power (choreography), Jack Prest (sound design) for Between Tiny Cities រវាងទីក្រុងតូច

Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer

  • Jana Castillo for construct (Australian Dance Theatre)
  • Amber Haines for Spectra (Dancenorth)
  • Ako Kondo for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (The Australian Ballet)
  • Charmene Yap for Ocho (Sydney Dance Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer

  • Richard Causer for Behind Closed Doors (Expressions Dance Company)
  • Nelson Earl for Ocho (Sydney Dance Company)
  • Beau Dean Riley Smith for Bennelong (2017) (Bangarra Dance Theatre)
  • Kimball Wong for construct (Australian Dance Theatre)

Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre

  • Gravity & Other Myths for BACKBONE
  • Michael Ralph for SELF
  • Andrew Hallsworth for Muriel’s Wedding (Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures)
  • Nicola Gunn and Jo Lloyd for Piece for Person and Ghetto Blaster

Outstanding Achievement in Dance on Film or New Media

  • Richard James Allen for Enchant
  • Sophia Bender for Behind Barres
  • Sue Healey for Eileen
  • Catherine Moore & Jade Lowry for Unstilled

2018 Australian Dance Awards shortlist media release (50 KB PDF)

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Executive Director’s May update

We are currently representing the dance sector by contributing knowledge to three urgent issues that impact healthy growth in Australia’s creative economy:

  • Access to professional mental health support for those who work in the entertainment industry, because we can't tackle these issues in isolation. We need to support each other.
  • Access to education and training resources to prevent discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying, because these impact our mental health and wellbeing. Together we can create healthy work environments free from these threats.
  • Sustainable access to international expertise that transfers skills to Australian organisations and creatives, because this will stimulate innovation.

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Save the date: 2018 Australian Dance Awards

The 2018 Australian Dance Awards will take place on Saturday 8 September at 4.00 pm at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

We have appointed Sandi Woo as Producer. Sandi will work with local and interstate companies, independent dance artists and Ausdance Queensland to create a diverse program for the event. The late afternoon time slot has been selected so that everyone can enjoy Brisbane Festival’s Opening Celebrations, later that evening. 

We will announce more details in the coming weeks, including details of sector meetings set to take place over that weekend, ensuring wonderful networking opportunities.

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Archiving Ausdance National at the National Library of Australia

With about 250 Ausdance National archive boxes now housed at the National Library in Canberra, the work of cataloguing their contents continues.

This week marked a major milestone in this process, with Julie Dyson and Sandra Macarthur-Onslow reaching the 200-box mark in a collection that includes 40 years of Ausdance National’s achievements—submissions, funding applications, letters of support, reports, analysis of the dance sector, projects such as Safe Dance & Dancers’ Transition, strategic plans, minutes, publications, photographs, plus an impressive archive of Australian dance companies, large and small, and independent artists’ ephemera. It’s an amazing and impressive record of a 40-year period in Australian dance history between 1977 and 2017 which we are sure future researchers will find invaluable.

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World Dance Alliance prepares for Panpapanpalya

As Secretary of WDA Asia Pacific, I am preparing agendas and papers for the annual general meeting of WDA Asia Pacific, to be held in Adelaide on Wednesday 11 July. Ausdance National supports the WDA through publication of conference proceedings on the Ausdance website and I represent Ausdance through board membership of both the Global Executive and the Asia-Pacific region.

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