Dame Peggy van Praagh was the founding artistic director of The Australian Ballet (1962). She dedicated much of her career to fostering young Australian choreographers in ballet and contemporary dance, and was one of the founders of Ausdance.
Key information
Fellowship amount: $10,000
For: Mid-career choreographers (self determined)
Purpose: To support the professional development of an independent choreographer whose practice shows strong artistic potential and who would significantly benefit from targeted career development support.
Applications close: 5:00pm AEST, Friday 31 July 2026.
Your application
We are inviting eligible choreographers who can demonstrate the value of the fellowship to their own choreographic development, practice or career to submit an expression of interest.
Your fellowship activities should be completed within two years of the application date. The fellowship will not necessarily contribute to a performance, but you must produce a public outcome of some description (read reports from previous Fellows for suggestions).
Your expression of interest should include:
- up to 1000 words addressing the Assessment criteria,
- a link to a sample of work (max 3 mins of choreography), and
- a CV (max 2 pages) including 2 references.
Email your application to Ausdance National with ‘PvP Fellowship’ in the subject line.
Eligibility
Applicants should:
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or be able to demonstrate they are a longstanding professional member of the Australian dance sector;
- be a professional independent choreographer;
- not be applying on behalf of a company or incorporated producing entity;
- demonstrate an established commitment to choreographic practice;
- be in a career-development phase consistent with the fellowship’s purpose;
- be a current financial Ausdance member.
Please note, applicants may only apply for one Ausdance Fellowship (i.e Peggy van Praagh OR Keith Bain Choreographic Travel Fellowship).
Assessment criteria
Artistic practice and choreographic merit
- Evidence of a serious and distinctive choreographic practice.
- Quality, originality and clarity of artistic vision.
Career development value
- Clear explanation of how the fellowship will further the applicant’s choreographic development and career trajectory.
- Strong alignment between the proposed activity and the purpose of the fellowship.
Feasibility
- A realistic, well-considered professional development plan, timeline and use of funds.
Potential impact
- Likely benefit to the applicant’s future practice, leadership and contribution to Australian dance.
Sector contribution
- Capacity to enrich the broader dance ecology through the development of the artist’s practice, including through community, collaboration, cultural exchange, regional influence, intergenerational practice, disability-led practice, or other forms of contribution.
We welcome applications from independent choreographers working across —
- Contemporary and hybrid practices
- Culturally diverse practices
- First Nations dance practice
- Regional and remote contexts
- Disability-led practice
- Intergenerational and community-connected choreographic practice.
Previous Fellowship recipients
Previous recipients are Alisdair Macindoe (2019), Kristina Chan (2017), Lina Limosani (2015), Kay Armstrong (2013) and Stephanie Lake (2012).
About Dame Peggy
In the 1960s and 1970s while she was artistic director of The Australian Ballet, Dame Peggy collaborated with many of Australia's leading artists to establish the legendary Armidale summer schools, through which young Australian choreographers were given opportunity and encouragement. Peggy was also one of the founding members of Ausdance.
Under van Praagh's direction, The Australian Ballet made the first of many overseas tours, developed a repertoire of ballets that included established international dances as well as commissioned works from Australian and overseas choreographers, and hosted guest appearances by many notable dancers.
Peggy's vision of developing a unique dance culture for Australian dance has had lasting implications for future generations. The Dame Peggy van Praagh Memorial Addresses pay tribute to and acknowledges her influence and her ability to identify and encourage choreographic development.
After her death, the trustees of Dame Peggy's estate made a bequest to Ausdance National with the specific purpose of supporting choreographic development that advances the profession.
