Ausdance WA seeks new Director
Key information
- Job title: Director, Ausdance WA
- Location: King Street Arts Centre, Perth
- Applications close 5.00 pm 16 October 2015
- Annual salary: $60,000—$80,000
Ausdance WA exists to ensure dance is integrally embedded in the cultural life of Western Australians as an art form, career pathway, recreational pursuit and healthy life choice.
‘Lifelong Dance’ is the vision informing our strategies for the 2016-18 triennial. The proposed program of activities will realise this vision across the spectrum of professional and non-professional dance.
We are seeking a leader in program delivery, dance education and policy development to champion innovation, excellence and creativity in dance.
The successful candidate will provide a range of assistance and support to the elected Management Committee; manage the day-to-day affairs of Ausdance-WA; be accountable and responsible for the organisations financial, human and physical resources; and create and maintain effective relationships to be an active advocate and provide leadership for dance in WA.
To express your interest in this role, please email the following to [email protected]:
- Your resume
- A statement outlining why you would be effective in this position (max 1000).Your statement must relate to the responsibilities of the position and provide evidence indicating you have the required competencies and experience for the position.
Applications must be received by 5.00 pm 16 October 2015.
Adoption of The Australian Curriculum: The Arts
Today the Education Council endorsed the Australian Curriculum in eight learning areas, INCLUDING THE ARTS! Congratulations to all our NAAE colleagues, to Linda Lorenza, and to all the wonderful teachers out there who supported the consultation process and contributed their expert knowledge to the writing of the curriculum. What a fabulous outcome for the Arts and for Australian students everywhere!
Adoption of The Australian Curriculum: The Arts by Australian education Ministers is an exciting development, especially after the Pyne review recommended that five art forms in the draft curriculum be reduced to two. However, in response to the review's concerns about the 'crowded curriculum', ACARA has introduced optional, single learning area achievement standards for The Arts, while keeping existing subject-specific achievement standards as an alternative (NAAE's preferred option). There will be no changes to content descriptions. Version 8.0 of the curriculum will be available on ACARA's website from 18 October.
2015 Australian Dance Award Winners
The 2015 Australian Dance Awards were announced and presented at Her Majesty's Theatre in Adelaide on Saturday 12 September. Congratulations to the winners and all the shortlisted nominees!
Hall of Fame Inductees
Marilyn Jones OBE
Marilyn Jones OBE, Australia’s first new prima ballerina of The Australian Ballet is an iconic figure of dance. From her first season with the company to her last, she sustained an innately lyrical aesthetic. Marilyn’s warmth and humility in such classics as Swan Lake, Raymonda, Sleeping Beauty and, perhaps above all, Giselle with her (then) husband Garth Welch, made her a favourite with audiences nationally and abroad.
Following her performance career, Marilyn taught at the National Theatre Ballet School and was artistic director of The Australian Ballet (1979-1982), where she established the Dancers Company involving final year students of The Australian Ballet School. In 1995 she became Artistic Director of the National Theatre School, and later, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Classical Dance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Today Marilyn is the artistic director of the Australian Institute of Classical Dance, which she established to produce a new Australian ballet-training syllabus. In 1996 she launched the much-valued Dance Creation competition for emerging choreographers. Marilyn continues to lead the Institute’s valuable work, which comprises workshops for students, teachers’ seminars, examinations, scholarship competitions and residencies at the Royal New Zealand Ballet School and the Houston Ballet School in Texas USA.
One of our greatest classical dancers, Marilyn has inspired and influenced generations of young dancers throughout her distinguished life in dance.
Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM
Nationally and internationally renowned as a choreographer, teacher and performer, Elizabeth has been passionate and dedicated to dance and the arts for her entire life. Part of a generation of artists seeking a spiritual and holistic way of expressing themselves, she has helped to define Australia's cultural identity and expression in the modern world and has made a significant and lasting impact on the development of Australian contemporary dance.
Originally trained in Adelaide, Elizabeth left to study with remarkable choreographers before returning to found and lead Australian Dance Theatre, following which she taught and choreographed in Europe before returning to the freelance life in Australia and founding Mirramu Creative Arts Centre in New South Wales. She continues to dance, teach and choreograph around the world.
A visionary as well as a pioneer, Elizabeth has always been an advocate of human rights—as expressed in her many creative works—actively supporting Aboriginal rights, women's rights, the environment and contemporary arts. Leading a generation of artists who were seeking a spiritual and holistic pathway through their art in order to communicate and explore ways to interpret the world, she has contributed to defining Australia's diverse cultural identity and has made a significant and lasting impact on the development of Australian contemporary dance.
Australian arts funding—September 2015 update
In 2013, 702,000 Australians attended a performance, workshop, or school activity facilitated by a national dance organisation (Key Arts Organisation (KAO) or Major Performing Arts company (MPA)). Australian dance continued to make a significant impact overseas, reaching an international audience of 69,000 through 122 performances by KAOs and MPAs across Europe, South America and the Middle East. From a small amount of funding support our dance companies are engaging audiences, sharing Australian cultural experiences and supporting developing artists.
However, this is all at risk due to the changes in funding being rolled out following the May 2015 Federal Budget. The Australia Council for the Arts has suffered a $34 million cut over the past two budgets, reducing overall funding from $218.7million to $184.5 million.
These reductions have been focused on initiatives and sector grants and the cessation of programs such as ArtStart, Australian Fellowships and Artists In Residence programs.
$110 million over four years has been directed to the Ministry for the Arts to facilitate the National Program for Excellence in the Arts (NPEA). The guidelines for this program are being drafted, but initial indications show the NPEA will not support individual artists or organisational sustainability.
The arts sector, concerned about these changes, were successful in lobbying the Senate to inquire into these changes. The inquiry is being undertaken by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Reference Committee and received over 2000 submissions from the public, many opposing the changes.
The inquiry is hearing from a diverse range of artists and organisations, including many dance focused groups. The Committee is due to report in November.
The arts broadly and the professional dance sector specifically contributes to the understanding of Australia’s culture and international profile. While MPA dance companies earn 73 percent of their income via box office and other non-government support, internal Australia Council reporting highlights the reliance small to medium companies have on government support to be able to deliver their creative output. In 2013, dance key organisations received 69 percent of all income from government sources, compared to 37 percent in music and 50 percent in theatre.
Despite a recent increased focus on growing private sector funding by KAO dance companies, it remains only approximately $1 million a year, spread across 13 organisations. While this focus has seen an increase on previous years (260 percent since 2008), private funding for the arts has predominately been directed at larger, more established arts organisations. Small to medium organisations need a growth in base capacity and ongoing stability to be able to harness such relationships.
This is a challenging time for all involved in making professional dance. Follow the debate at #freethearts on Twitter and Facebook and via the Ausdance advocacy page.
Adelaide abuzz with the influx of some of Australia’s best dancers and dance companies
The Australian Dance Awards 2015 will land in Adelaide for the very first time and the city is abuzz with the influx of some of Australia’s best dancers, dance companies, dance writers, and everyone else who helps Australian dance achieve on the national and international stage.
A packed performance program features Australian Dance Theatre celebrating their 50th anniversary, Dancenorth, Melbourne City Ballet, Restless Dance Theatre, Leigh Warren, with a Welcome to Country from Karl Winda Telfer and Kurruru Youth Arts. It will also see the restaging of an early Elizabeth Cameron Dalman piece for ADT by the current company, the ADT Youth Ensemble will perform the exciting Smash Crack Zeal., and Dusty Feet Dance Collective will appear on film from Alice Springs.
Amongst the Awards will be the induction of two of Australia’s most distinguished contributors of dance to the Hall of Fame. Both Marilyn Jones OBE and Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM will receive their certificates from Dr Alan Brissenden AM, himself inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013, and Ms Elizabeth Walsh, the Chair of Arts Practice, Dance, The Australia Council. The Lifetime Achievement Award will also be presented to Marilyn Rowe OBE. Thirteen Awards in total will be presented, with the Hall of Fame and the Ausdance Peggy van Praagh Choreographic Fellowship.
The Australian Dance Awards will be presented at 7.30 pm at Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide on 12 September 2015. Tickets from BASS outlets.
Job opportunity: Dancenorth General Manager
Are you an experienced arts administrator, a strategic and inspirational leader, an exceptional collaborator, communicator and networker?
Dancenorth, Australia’s leading regional contemporary dance company, have a dynamic new structure that enables Australia’s most talented choreographers to create new works. Fresh from a national tour the company is gaining attention and is looking for a dynamic leader to maximise upon opportunities to take them to the next level.
This full-time position is based in Townsville, North Queensland.
In the first instance, please email [email protected] for a full job description by 5 pm Sunday 19 September.
2015 Australian Dance Awards announces two inductees to the Hall of Fame
The Australian Dance Awards is delighted to announce two inductees to the Hall of Fame for 2015.
The Hall of Fame is the most prestigious of all Australian Dance Awards and is made directly by the Awards Advisory Panel in recognition of the individual’s unique contribution and role in professional dance.
The inductees are Marilyn Jones OBE and Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM, who will both attend on the night.
Marilyn Jones OBE
Marilyn Jones & Jonathan Kelly rehearse Anne Wooliams' Swan Lake. 1978 Flemington studios. Photo Michael CookMarilyn Jones OBE, Australia’s first new prima ballerina of The Australian Ballet, founded in 1962, remains an iconic figure of dance. From her first season with the company to her last, she sustained an innately lyrical aesthetic.
Her warmth and humility in the classics made her a favourite with audiences nationally and abroad. She was Artistic Director from 1979—1982.
Today Marilyn is the artistic director of the Australian Institute of Classical Dance, which she established during an Australia Council Creative Artists Fellowship to produce a new, Australian ballet-training syllabus.
In 1996 she launched the Dance Creation competition for emerging choreographers. Marilyn continues to lead the Institute’s valuable work, which comprises workshops for students, teachers’ seminars, examinations, scholarship competitions and residencies at the Royal New Zealand Ballet School and the Houston Ballet School in Texas USA.
Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM
Elizabeth, 1974. Photo: Jan DalmanNationally and internationally renowned as a director, choreographer, teacher and performer, Elizabeth is one of our foremost dance pioneers. A passionate artist with a life-long dedication to dance, Elizabeth has been a prime mover in shaping the Australian dance landscape for over 50 years.
Part of a generation of artists seeking a spiritual and holistic way of expressing themselves, she has helped to define Australia's cultural identity and expression in the modern world and has made a significant and lasting impact on the development of Australian contemporary dance.
Originally trained in Adelaide, Elizabeth left to study with remarkable choreographers before returning to found and lead Australian Dance Theatre, following which she taught and choreographed in Europe before returning to the freelance life in Australia and founding Mirramu Creative Arts Centre in New South Wales.
She continues to dance, teach and choreograph around the world.
The Australian Dance Awards 2015
The Australian Dance Awards 2015 are presented by Ausdance and Harlequin Floors with the Adelaide Festival Centre, 7.30 pm on 12 September at Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide. Get your Australian Dance Awards tickets from BASS outlets.
Ausdance thanks presenting partner Harlequin Floors and the Adelaide Festival Centre, Equity, AON Risk Management Services, Innovation & Business Skills Australia, Australian Dance Theatre and TAFE SA, and welcomes new partners Gaynor Minden and Novatech Creative Event Technology.
Ausdance National is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
Neil Roach, Project Officer for the Australian Dance Awards 2015
Award for Lifetime Achievement 2015
The Australian Dance Awards committee is pleased to announce that the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015 will be presented to Marilyn Rowe OBE in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to dance.
After an outstanding career as an internationally acclaimed principal artist with The Australian Ballet, Marilyn dedicated her life to The Australian Ballet School and its students, helping shape the future of young dancers through her leadership, vision and innovative education programs. Marilyn has been instrumental in developing a world-class unique dance training institution that produces distinctly Australian dancers who have learned through a holistic educational program which balances technique, artistry, academic education and student care. She is the driving force behind the establishment of Marilyn Rowe House, a residence for The Australian Ballet School.
Clockwise from top L: with Dame Peggy van Praagh in the studio; with John Meehan in The Merry Widow Photo: Branco Gaica; with Gary Norman in Spartacus Photo: Branco Gaica; in rehearsal at The Australian Ballet's Flemington studios 1971 Photo: Paul Cox. Images courtesy of The Australian Ballet.Marilyn performed and created a phenomenal body of work in her performing years, equally outstanding in both classical and contemporary techniques. Her reputation in the latter was forged, when American choreographer Glen Tetley chose Marilyn, Alida Chase, John Meehan and Gary Norman for his ground breaking ballet, Gemini in 1973. Also that year she formed an acclaimed partnership with Kelvin Coe, with whom she won the prize for most outstanding couple plus individual silver medals at the Moscow International Ballet Competition. Her talent inspired other choreographers who illuminated the most brilliant partnerships: with John Meehan in The Merry Widow (Ronald Hynd) and Gary Norman in Anna Karenina (André Prokovsky) as did John Cranko’s existing ballets, Romeo and Juliet and Onegin.
A multi-award winning performer, artist, director and teacher, Marilyn’s legacy to dance, dance education and to Australian arts and culture is far reaching and will be long-lasting. Her contribution has been acknowledged with her appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1980 for her services to ballet in Australia.
ArtsPeak’s response to the draft guidelines for the National Program for Excellence in the Arts
ArtsPeak's response to National Program for Excellence in the Arts draft guidelines (360KB PDF)
Dear Minister Brandis
Re: draft guidelines for the National Program for Excellence in the Arts (NPEA)
ArtsPeak (the confederation of Australian national peak arts organisations and arts industry councils) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the recently released draft guidelines for the Federal Government’s National Program for Excellence in the Arts (NPEA). ArtsPeak particularly welcomes the Government’s statement about the intrinsic value of the arts:
While valuing the many secondary benefits which flow from arts activities, the Program seeks to celebrate the intrinsic capacity of the arts to engage, inspire and make meaning for all Australians.
1. Sustainability
Ausdance responds to the Draft Guidelines for the National Program for Excellence in the Arts
Draft Guidelines for the Program
Ausdance responds to the Draft Guidelines for the National Program for Excellence in the Arts (300KB PDF)
The Australian Dance Council – Ausdance National is Australia's peak body for dance: educating, inspiring and supporting the dance community in reaching its potential as a dynamic force within local, national and international communities. As part of a network of Ausdance organisations working across Australia, we design and deliver accessible services and integrated programs to support dance in Australia. Ausdance is a member of ArtsPeak and the National Advocates for Arts Education, and facilitates the Tertiary Dance Council of Australia.
We welcome the opportunity to review the guidelines in draft format, noting this new funding process exists under the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines and will need to be approved by the Finance Minister before commencing.
Ausdance supports the feedback provided by ArtsPeak relating to the Guidelines and adds these further comments.
Child sexual abuse in the entertainment industry
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse would like to hear from anyone who has experienced, or has information regarding, child sexual abuse in institutions in the entertainment industry.
Royal Commission CEO Philip Reed said that the Royal Commission is calling for people with information about child sexual abuse in the entertainment industry to contact the Royal Commission.
Congratulations Australian Dance Awards 2015 shortlisted nominees
Image courtesy Australian Dance Theatre. Photographer: Chris Herzfeld Camlight Productions. Dancers from L to R: Kimball Wong, Samantha Hines, Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, Matte Roffe & Lonii Garnons-Williams.Congratulations to the shortlisted nominees.
Services to Dance
- Jeff Busby
- Philippe Charluet
- Nicolette Fraillon
- Jennifer Irwin
Call for Applications: Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year 2016
Sydney Dance Company is pleased to invite applications from talented Australian and New Zealand dancers wishing to take part in its Pre-Professional Year program in 2016.
Key information
Applications close 13 August 2015
Course fee: $13,500
For advanced dance students aged 18 or older (or turning 18 in 2016) with a high level of training in Ballet and/or Contemporary dance.
Qualification awarded at completion: Certificate IV in Dance (CUA40113)
Course length: 1 year (Monday–Friday, 9 am – 4.30 pm)
Course location: Sydney Dance Company’s Walsh Bay studios
Application guidelines and FAQs: Apply for the 2016 Pre-Professional Year
Australian Dance Theatre’s Secondment Week 2015
Australian Dance Theatre’s Secondment Week is an unparalleled opportunity for graduating tertiary dance students to receive training in:
- tumbling, choreographic tasking and stagecraft
- current company repertoire
- audition technique
- forums on related topics like company life, diet, nutrition and marketing.
Key information
- Dates 10–14 August 2015
- Cost $300 per student.
- Location Australian Dance Theatre (Adelaide), 126 Belair Rd, Hawthorn SA 5062
- Applications Email to [email protected] your CV, two full-body dance photographs (files should not exceed 1MB, file saved as your first & last name), and up to two links to video footage.
News from the World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific
Our friends at the World Dance Alliance Asia–Pacific bring us the first edition their newsletter for 2015—Asia–Pacific Channels. For past editions, visit Asia–Pacific Channels.
This edition includes many moving and wonderful messages honouring the memory of Maggi Phillips.
These messages speak for themselves about her extraordinary qualities and her far-reaching positive influence in so many ways and in many countries across the world.
—Cheryl Stock
Channels also outlines many exciting projects from the Education & Training Network, the Support & Development Network, the Creation & Presentation Network, and the Research & Documentation Network. Ralph Buck reports from the World Alliance for Arts Education conference with a summary of the WAAE Strategic Planning discussion and five new education projects. And Chapters across the region have contributed updates and photographs summarising their extensive and diverse dance activities.Watch National Dance Forum 2015 panel discussions
- Transforming the form: changing structures and their effects
- The subtleties and nuances of innovation.
- Discourse: How is dance written about, spoken about and communicated?
A partnership between the Australia Council for the Arts and Ausdance National, the NDF is a biennial gathering for the Australian professional contemporary dance sector. It fosters the artistic development of dance in Australia by providing a platform for discussion between Australian choreographers, dancers, independent artists, artistic directors, educators, researchers and dance producers.
National Program for Excellence in the Arts draft guidelines released
The new National Program for Excellence in the Arts announced in the 2015–16 Budget have been released for public comment.
Feedback is invited from the arts sector and broader community by 5pm AEST 31 July 2015.
Senate Inquiry into Arts budget confirmed—add your letter by 17 July!
At the beginning of June, Ausdance joined ArtsPeak (the confederation of national peak arts organisations) in calling for a Senate Inquiry into the 2015 Budget funding cuts to the Australia Council and the rechanneling of those funds into a new funding program called National Programme for Excellence in the Arts.
Now a reality, the Senate Inquiry into the 2015 & 2014 budget cuts to the arts is calling for submissions from artists and arts organisations.
If you're an artist, and you can write down how the funding changes have affected you, you should write a letter and submit it to the Inquiry.
We urge you to add your submission by the 17 July closing date. Check out the 'how to make a submission to the Senate Inquiry toolkit' from ArtsPeak member National Association of Visual Arts (NAVA).
You can read examples of the submissions already made.
Submission deadline: 17 July 2015.
In case you missed it...
Here's what Ausdance has been saying about the recent changes to the Australia Council's funding and its impact on artists and the arts ecology.
- Ausdance honorary life members added their voices to the many letters and statements made in support of the Australia Council (3 June 2015).
- And Ausdance National President Brian Lucas responded to the recent funding cuts to the Australia Council (4 June 2015).
Apply now for the Ausdance Peggy van Praagh Choreographic Fellowship
The Ausdance Peggy van Praagh Choreographic Fellowship of $10,000 will be awarded to a mid-career artist, 35 years or over with at least 10 years’ professional experience working as a choreographer.
We invite eligible choreographers who can demonstrate the value of the fellowship to their own choreographic development, practice or career to submit an expression of interest.
Key information
Applications close 3 August 2015
Fellowship amount: $10,000
For mid-career choreographers (35 years and over)
Purpose: supporting choreographic development that advances the profession
Eligibility criteria and application guidelines: Ausdance Peggy van Praagh Choreographic Fellowship.
2015 Australian Dance Awards
In 2015 the Australian Dance Awards are bound for Adelaide for the first time. The Awards celebrate the achievements of Australian dance companies and dancers in a night-of-nights event combining performances and Award presentations. They will feature past winners and notable guests hosted by well-known Adelaide identity Jane Doyle.
Key information
Date & time: 7.30 pm Saturday 12 September 2015
Location: Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Tickets: Get your Australian Dance Awards tickets from BASS