News: April 2022

Ausdance National Board – 2022 call for nominations

Ausdance National calls for nominations to fill several board vacancies on the National Council at the Annual General Meeting.

The AGM will be held via Zoom on Tuesday 28 June 2022 at 12.30pm AEST.

Nominations must be made by email to the National President, Lizzie Vilmanis, by Friday 27 May 2022 via the nomination form, and signed by a nominator and a seconder, each of whom are members of the association. Nominees must be Ausdance members.

General information

In accordance with Ausdance National's Constitution, all National Council roles are volunteer positions. 

At present the organisation is not staffed, but the National Council acts as national headquarters and provides leadership on national matters. National Council members are expected to work towards achieving the vision and mission of the association, but there is no obligation for them to carry out duties other than those required by the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 Australian Capital Territory.

Currently, the National Council meets monthly online, and between meetings its board members carry out both governance and operational duties.

Responsibilities of Ausdance National

The National Council is responsible for overseeing:

  • The formulation of policies and programs for Ausdance National.
  • Effective communication and collaboration with the Ausdance network and the membership.
  • National dance advocacy programs on behalf of the dance community.
  • The financial management of Ausdance National.
  • The sourcing of funds for Ausdance National’s activities.
  • The administration of the Ausdance Fund listed on the Register of Cultural Organisations.

National Council membership

The National Council seeks a composition of individual professionals and cultural leaders that is reflective of the diversity of the wider community. The National Council values self-determination of First Nations Peoples and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to nominate. To service the current mission of the association, candidates who have recognised knowledge, skills, and experience in two or more of the following areas will be highly regarded:  

  • Dance 
  • Advocacy
  • Health and wellbeing 
  • Education
  • Justice, equity and inclusion
  • Accountancy
  • Law
  • Arts and Cultural Management
  • Marketing
  • Public relations & communications
  • Corporate governance 
  • Information technology
  • Human resources
  • Business and systems development 
  • Strategic planning and change management
  • Policy development
  • Legislative Processes

Ausdance National is actively committed to helping to build a safer and more inclusive dance sector, and we seek individuals for the National Council who: 

  • Respect, acknowledge and value First Nations Peoples and Cultures. 
  • Are committed to advocating for equity, anti-discrimination and intersectional diversity in the Australian dance environment. 
  • Prioritise and support safe spaces for such discussions.
  • Value the unique capacity of dance for cross-cultural exchange, knowledge-sharing, artistic expression, healing and storytelling.
  • Will promote and engage in respectful communication, interactions and behaviour across all platforms throughout the dance community.

Nomination process

Along with your nomination form, please outline your skills, knowledge and experience relevant to dance, governance, and/or the skills outlined above. 

The following selection criteria will also be considered:

  • A commitment to the development of dance in Australia.
  • A commitment to serve the mission of Ausdance National.
  • Proven ability to think strategically in a changing and dynamic environment.
  • High-level skills, knowledge and experience that will significantly contribute to the good governance and future vision of Ausdance National and the Ausdance network.

Based on consideration by the National Council, a shortlist of the candidates who fulfil the board requirements will proceed to member vote at the AGM. Nominees must be members of Ausdance.

Where multiple candidates are recommended by the National Council for a position, these candidates will be selected by election at the AGM. 

Appointed positions are for a two-year term.

Contact

Please contact National President Lizzie Vilmanis for further information and to express your interest in nominating.

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Australian Dance Awards reviewed

The Board of Ausdance National advises that a review will be conducted to re-evaluate the Australian Dance Awards. This places the current Awards program on hold until the evaluation has been completed. 

The review will consider the relevance of the Awards in today’s world, and their impact and value in serving the national dance community and the mission and vision of Ausdance National, including their accessibility, their inclusivity and their viability. 

The review forms part of the Board’s appraisal of the association’s positioning and its ability to advocate for cultural leadership and the diversity and professionalism of dance practice, enabling the many benefits dance brings to the lives of people living on the lands now known as Australia. 

Ausdance National aims to build awareness, understanding and acknowledgement of the extensive and impactful contributions made by the national dance sector. The roles that cultural leaders, dance professionals – and the pluralism of dance that they facilitate – are essential in shaping quality of life, and must be recognised and valued to be sustainable.

Ausdance National values the shared knowledge, experience and expertise of all of our members. You are vital to shaping Ausdance National activities that are relevant and effective and can support you and serve our mission.

We will be seeking your input about the Australian Dance Awards to inform the review. 

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Australian Dance Week

The Ausdance network celebrates and promotes dance in all its forms every year during Australian Dance Week (ADW).

The dates for the opening and closing of Australian Dance Week vary slightly from state to state according to local events, but it always takes place during the first week of May and follows International Dance Day which is 29 April. This year's International Dance Day message comes from South Korean dancer Kang, Sue-jin.

Each state and territory Ausdance coordinates a variety of events from book launches and forums to free performances and community classes, and encourages its dance community to promote their own activities throughout the week.

Contact your local Ausdance to see what's happening in your area.

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2022 International Dance Day Message

In 1982 the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute founded International Dance Day to be celebrated every year on 29 April, the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), choreographer and creator of modern ballet. Every year a message from an outstanding dance artist is circulated throughout the world, and this year it marks the beginning of Australian Dance Week to be celebrated throughout Australia.

This year's IDD Message is by South Korean dancer KANG Sue-jin.

Photo credit: Jail Souen

The Covid-19 catastrophe has stopped life as we so freely knew it and being amidst this tragedy makes us rethink the meaning of ‘dance’ and ‘dancers’.

In the distant past, dance was a primal means of expression and communication through gestures, becoming performance art that moved the soul and inspired the audience.

It is a momentary art that is difficult to restore to its original form once completed because it’s created with the entire body and soul. Dance is made of ephemeral moments, which destines dancers to be on the move forever. Yet, Covid-19 has restricted and even blocked the art of dance in its original form.
Even though the situation is improving, dance performances are still subject to many restrictions. This makes us cherish the precious memories of times when dance and dancers sparkled like jewels, conveying human anguish and anxiety, will and hope for life, and illuminated the world.

Similarly, it is important to recall that during the aftershocks of the Black Death in Medieval Europe, the ballet Giselle – depicting love beyond death – was performed at the Paris Opera on 28 June 1841 and received an explosive response.

Since then, Giselle has been performed all over Europe and around the world to comfort and encourage the souls of mankind ravaged by the pandemic. It is also my understanding that this was first demonstrated in that very performance of Giselle, as  the magnificent spirit of a ballerina trying to escape the gravity of the world’s hardships.

The lonely and weary audience is thirsty for the sympathy and comfort of the dancers. As dancers, we believe that the flapping of our wings gives hope to the hearts of those who love the art of dance and gives them the courage to overcome this pandemic.

My heart is already starting to pound.
Kang Sue-jin

KANG Sue-jin was born on 24 April 1967 and is Artistic Director of Korean National Ballet. She has an honorary doctorate in the Department of Dance, Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul, Republic of Korea. She was Stuttgart Ballet soloist and principal dancer for more than 15 years, and was appointed as Kammertanzerin (Royal Court Dancer), Germany, in 2007. She was Honorary Ambassador of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. KANG Sue-jin uses her fame and her artistic skills for introducing children with disabilities to dance. Photo credit: Jail Souen

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