Following the Annual General Meeting on 19 March 2017, the new skills-based board members of the Ausdance National Council formally commenced in their new director roles. It has been great to connect as a group not only in better understanding the breadth of experience that each team member brings to the responsibility of leading Ausdance National, but how passionate everyone is about Ausdance and the dance sector in general!
The new board met for the first time in Canberra last weekend, and it was an excellent opportunity for the team to be able to review and move forward with a range of initiatives that the Interim Executive outlined via their 2017 Strategic Plan; in addition to the identification of new approaches that will assist in working to fulfil our commitment to our members and the broader community, as the peak body for dance in Australia.
On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to extend our thanks to the Interim Executive—Shane Colquhoun, Henry Laska, Paul Summers, Peter Bayliss, in addition to Honorary Life Member Julie Dyson, for their extraordinary work during this transitional time, and for providing us with a strong platform on which to build.
Furthermore, thank you to all the Ausdance state office staff, executive directors/directors and board members who have been very helpful in supporting the strengthening of our connections with and across the network already, including exploring the best way forward to work together effectively to achieve our collective goals. Stay tuned for further updates!
We would also like to thank the Australia Council for providing the funding that enables the board to meet face-to-face on a number of occasions throughout 2017. With the diverse spread of board members located across the nation, the opportunity to meet in person is critical which, alongside regular teleconferences, will look to support our ability to move the Ausdance agenda forward in an efficient and effective way.
The planning for the Australian Dance Awards on Sunday 24 September 2017 is well under way, and we would like to acknowledge the significant work of Michelle Silby and her Ausdance Victoria team as the hosting partner, and our ongoing sponsors and supporters of the event. Given 2017 marks the 40th Anniversary year for Ausdance, these awards will be a significant milestone in marking this special occasion—please save the date!
On another note, it is Australian Dance Week this week and there have been a wonderful array of activities happening across the country. To keep up with what’s on in your local area, check out the News & Events information.
Happy Australian Dance Week!