Call for applications—Sydney Dance Company pre-professional year 2017
We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for Sydney Dance Company's 2017 Pre-Professional Year. Australian and New Zealand dancers aged 18 or over are eligible to apply.
Led by course Director Linda Gamblin, this nationally accredited one year intensive offers students the chance to work with some of Australia’s most renowned choreographers and dance educators. Students will develop their technique, artistry and performance skills alongside members of Sydney Dance Company led by Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela.
National Advocates for Arts Education supports implementation of the Arts curriculum
National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) met in Canberra on 19 & 20 June to discuss a range of outstanding issues affecting implementation of The Australian Curriculum: The Arts. Several projects were identified that would assist classroom teachers, students, governments and other decision makers in the implementation process. NAAE plans to develop these projects in the coming months, and seek partnerships and funding to bring them to fruition.
Members of the National Advocates for Arts Education at the National Library Australia, 19 June 2016. Taking time out to #IStandWithTheArts #ArtsChangesLives while talking Arts Education advocacy! L–R: John Saunders (Drama Australia), Roger Dunscombe (Australian Teachers of Media), Sandra Gattenhof (Drama Australia), Bradley Merrick (Australian Society for Music Education), and Julie Dyson (NAAE chair).Sir Matthew Bourne auditions male dancers for Melbourne production
Arts Centre Melbourne, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and Re:Bourne, the charitable arm of New Adventures are working towards a major creative project that will culminate in a one week season at Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre in Autumn 2017.
This project offers an opportunity for Melbourne-based dancers to work for one month with choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne’s leading international dance company.
Sir Matthew Bourne and other members of the New Adventures team will be in Melbourne in August 2016 to audition six male dancers to join the company for this one-off project at Arts Centre Melbourne.
Key information
- Audition date: Saturday 6 August 2016 (applications required)
- Recalls: Sunday 7 August 2016
- Where: Auditions and recalls will be held in a centrally located venue in Melbourne
- Rehearsals & season: Sunday, 14 August 2016 (workshop) & Monday 13 March – Sunday 9 April 2017
- For Melbourne-based male dancers with at least three years of professional level training in classical or contemporary dance with a stage appearance age between 14–22.
- Audition notice and application information on the Arts Centre Melbourne website.
- Applications close COB Tuesday 12 July 2016.
Arts Centre Melbourne seeks two community dance artists for one-off project
Arts Centre Melbourne, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and Re:Bourne, the charitable arm of New Adventures are working towards a major creative project that will culminate in a one week season at Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre in Autumn 2017.
This project offers an opportunity for Melbourne-based dance artists and physical performers to work with a leading international dance company.
Sir Matthew Bourne and other members of the New Adventures team will be in Melbourne in August 2016 to find two community dance artists to join the company for this one-off project at Arts Centre Melbourne.
Key information
- For artists with experience in classical or contemporary dance, physical performance, mentoring of young people and dance workshop delivery.
- Interview & workshop date: Monday 8 August 2016
- Training: Friday 12 – Monday 15 August 2016
- Outreach workshops: Monday 3 October – Sunday 11 December 2016 (P/T) & Saturday 18 February and Sunday 19 February 2017
- Rehearsals & season: Monday 13 March – Sunday 9 April 2017 (P/T and F/T)
- Further details and position description on the Arts Centre Melbourne website.
- Applications close COB Tuesday 12 July 2016.
Asia-Pacific Channels June 2016 issue out now
Asia–Pacific Channels is the bi-annual newsletter of the World Dance Alliance (WDA), published by Ausdance National in collaboration with MyDance Alliance in Malaysia. It profiles dance events and activities from WDA members throughout the Asia–Pacific region.
Download the June 2016 issue (2 MB)
Images from the June 2016 issue.We produce and publish Channels as a contribution to the World Dance Alliance and dance in our region. It also helps us build the international networks that provide professional development opportunities for Australian dance artists.
Our work producing this publication helps us contribute to the World Dance Alliance's goals, which are:
- To promote the recognition, development and mutual understanding of all forms of dance.
- To facilitate communication and exchange among dance individuals, institutions and organisations interested in dance.
- To provide a forum for discussion of matters relating to dance.
- To encourage and support the research, education, criticism, creation and performance of dance.
- To liaise, co-ordinate and participate in activities with other dance organisations in the world.
Queensland Ballet—company and academy auditions
The Queensland Ballet will hold auditions in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in September 2016 for the Queensland Ballet Company, Jette Parker Young Artist Program & Pre-Professional Program.
For audition information and times, visit the Queensland Ballet auditions.
Write for Brolga—an Australian journal about dance
Submissions are open for Brolga #41 under the broad theme 'A place for dance'.
Key information
- Submissions due 31 August 2016
- Email your submission to the editor Olivia Millard
- Brolga guidelines for contributors (48 KB PDF)
The art and community ecology in which dance exists is delicate and complex. As with the fight for survival by animals in compromised environments perhaps it is the ‘charismatic’ or ‘innovative’ artists who survive. If so, where is the place for the dancers and dance makers who exist outside the realm of publically notable; who eschew spectacle or even notoriety? And how is it possible for a dancer to find their dance place in the rich history of skill and experimentation?
WA hosts the 2016 Australian Dance Awards
Australian Dance Awards 2016 key information
- 6.30 pm Sunday 18 September 2016
- Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, Perth
- Tickets: ticketek
The 2016 Australian Dance Awards image is from WA-based Ochre Contemporary Dance Company. Photo: Dana WeeksThe dance community in Western Australia is gearing up to host the 2016 Australian Dance Awards at the Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, Perth, on Sunday 18 September. Ausdance WA is working with Claudia Alesssi, creative producer of this year’s event, to curate a truly memorable evening, showcasing Western Australian dance companies, and more.
Update: 2016 Australian Dance Awards nominations process
With about three months until this year’s Australian Dance Awards (ADAs) in Perth, the selection panel has finished looking at all the viewing links for the long list of nominations and have submitted first-round votes. The next step is for the panel is to look at the top four or five contenders in each category and then submit another round of votes. Sometimes a teleconference is convened so that everyone can contribute to the discussion about any issues, tied or close scores etc.
We hope to have the 2016 shortlist confirmed by early July. The nominations coordinator will then contact all shortlisted nominees.
Dancehouse’s Housemate Residency
The Housemate Residency is about accompanying dance artists through the entire creative process, from vision to realisation. The program offers time to explore, space to examine possibility and the financial support to bring the Resident's project to fruition.
EOI submissions close 7 July 2016 at midnight.
Ausdance honorary life members respond to Ausdance National’s loss of operational funding
The founders and honorary life members of Ausdance—the Australian Dance Council—are extremely disappointed that an organisation with such a high national and international reputation for innovation and creativity has not been supported with four-year organisation funding by the Australia Council.
Funding cuts to the organisation’s innovative partnerships, public forums, its advocacy campaigns to support the small to medium dance sector (including years of work with the Australia Council to increase the Council’s own profile and funding—petitions to both Houses of Parliament in 2006, Dance Plan 2012 etc.); its seminal publications, dance education programs, and its international leadership in Safe Dance research leaves us believing that the Australia Council no longer sees value in the leadership shown by Ausdance National
Dancenorth experiment fills in the blanks
Media release
Next week Dancenorth opens their tour of the double bill ‘If _ Was _’
Tour performance dates and locations
- 9–11 June, Dancenorth, Townsville
- 15 June, Mackay Entertainment Centre
- 16 June Proserpine Entertainment Centre
- 23–25 June, Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane
- 29 June – 2 July, the Substation, Melbourne
Delve into the fanciful and illusionary worlds of two extraordinary choreographers, Stephanie Lake and Ross McCormack, as they fall down the rabbit hole of imagination and fill in the blanks for Dancenorth’s most recent double bill.
Full house for National Arts Election Debate
Final preparations are underway for next week’s much anticipated ArtsPeak National Arts Election Debate in Melbourne.
8 June 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm
The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
The debate will bring the arts leaders of each of the three major parties together to share their big ideas and respond to the burning questions of industry leaders and commentators from right across the industry.
Be part of Tasdance’s Dark Mofo performance
Apply for the Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance 2017
Apply now for the Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance. Applications close 1 June 2016.
30th ACHPER International Conference and call for papers
The 30th Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) International Conference, Participating in an Active and Healthy Life: Valuing the Participant Voice, has already attracted high-quality keynote speakers from overseas and Australia and promises to be a showcase of contemporary and future-focused ideas. It is a must-attend event for all health and physical education professionals, health, sports and other industry stakeholders.
2016 International Arts Education Week message by Li Cunxin
The World Alliance for Arts Education and UNESCO share an inspiring message for International Arts Education Week (23–29 May) by Li Cunxin (Mao's Last Dancer), Artistic Director, Queensland Ballet:
In a world of constant pressures, of noise, of expectations and distractions, art can be the thing that sustains us. Art has the capacity to take us to another world; allows an escape even if just for a moment. Be it in a gallery, a theatre, a music studio or on the street, art is a powerful thing. It has the power to transform, to transport, to enrich and therefore, sustain.
Dancenorth hosts inclusive professional dance exchange
Adelaide Dancer Chris Dyke has returned to Townsville as part of the first ongoing inclusive professional dance exchange in Australia.
Chris Dyke and Kyle Page. Photo: Amber HainesDuring the two-week secondment, Chris has choreographed a new solo work with the guidance of his mentor, Dancenorth Artistic Director Kyle Page, trained with the company each day and watched dancers rehearse for their upcoming performance of ‘If _ Was _’ a double bill created by Stephanie Lake and Ross McCormack.
Chris, who visited Townsville from Adelaide based Restless Dance Theatre and has Downs syndrome, described the opportunity as “a dream come true”.
ArtsPeak calls for restoration of Australia Council Funding
Media Release, 16 May 2016
ArtsPeak, the national confederation of peak arts and cultural organisations, says the Australian arts ecology is under serious threat following the announcement of four-year funding decisions by the Australia Council.
Ausdance National faces challenge
13 May 2016 media release
The Australian Dance Council—Ausdance congratulates the 12 dance organisations which were successful in the four-year funding announcements by the Australia Council. There is a solid core of highly creative, inspiring and highly productive organisations to create and tour dance around Australia and overseas.
Regrettably, the Australian Dance Council—Ausdance Inc (Ausdance National) finds itself amongst the 62 previously funded organisations that have not been successful. Ausdance National has been notified by the Australia Council that it will not receive operational funding beyond 31 December this year. This brings to an end many years of operational support for the work of Ausdance National.