Aussie’s take out Genée Gold and Silver!
Australia's Aaron Smyth won Gold at Genée International Ballet Competition in Toronto. Held by the Royal Acamedy of Dancing, the Genée is a demanding competition that attracts the finest young ballet dancers from all over the world. It offers a unique opportunity to work with and learn from world-renowned teachers and choreographers and also the chance to dance on the best international stages. Aaron, a crowd pleasing performer, won the prestigious Gold Medal as well as the Audience Vote. Congratulations to Aaron and his devoted teachers Joy Ransley and Diane Talbot. Aaron was interviewed in Dance Informa last year, in recognition of his emerging talent. Read his interview here. Congratulations also to Chelsea Andrejic from Tanya Pearson's studios in Sydney who won the Girl's Silver.
Australian Dance Awards - You Can Nominate!
The 2009 Australian Dance Awards will be held on Sunday June 7th at Melbourne’s the Arts Centre and you can already start nominating! The annual Australian Dance Awards recognise and honour professional Australian dance artists. Nominate anytime you see an outstanding performance by emailing national@ausdance.org.au between now and February 28th 2009. Go to the What's On section of the Ausdance website www.ausdance.org.au for nomination forms, selection criteria and everything you need to know. Get nominating today!
New Must Read - Robert Helpmann: A Servant of Art
To celebrate the 2009 centenary of Robert Helpmann’s birth, University of Queensland Press has published Robert Helpmann: A Servant of Art, by Anna Bemrose, a magnificently illustrated account of one of our greatest performers. Sir Robert Helpmann was a phenomenon in the arts - ballet dancer; mime artist; make-up artist; musicals performer; choreographer; actor on stage and screen; director of ballets, plays and operas; co-artistic director of the Australian Ballet; and director of the 1970 Adelaide Festival of Arts. With a foreword by Maina Gielgud, Artistic Director of the Australian Ballet from 1983 to 1996, this absolutely stunning book develops a career profile of Helpmann, assessing the nature and value of his contribution to the performing arts in Australia. http://www.uqp.com.au/
Australian Dance Festival Launch
In September the official launch party for the new Australian Dance Festival was held at Sydney’s State Sports Centre. The Australian Dance Festival will include 3 days of spectacular dance performances created by Australia’s leading choreographers, and 2 days of back to back workshops taught by our country’s best dance instructors. The shows and the workshops will cover a myriad of dance styles and showcase the best dance talent Australia has to offer! The festival will be held from June 12th-14th at the State Sports Centre, Sydney Olympic Park and will give dancers an opportunity to work with our country's top choreographers. It’s a must attend event! For more information phone 1300 132 152 or visit www.australiandancefestival.com.au
Collaboration – The Project
Collaboration – The Project is a new specialised program aimed at providing local opportunities for Australia's very talented Dance Community, led by director Paul Malek.The program which is currently in development promises to be an incredible journey for both the Dance community and its supporters. Collaboration’s objective is to preserve, enrich and succeed in creating performance opportunities for Australian artists. Working together with key supporters, such as Dance Informa, Collaboration sees an opportunity to elevate Australia as one of the leading Countries in the support and advancement of the performing arts.
Inhale The Showcase, from October 9th to 11th will be the first production presented by Collaboration - The Project. Performed at Theatreworks, St Kilda, Inhale is a showcase of talent from around Melbourne, combining the dance styles of Lyrical, Tap and Jazz with original music from local artists such as Jordan White and Ivan Khatchoyan, directed and choreographed by Paul Malek, Kim Adam, Paul Davis and Shane Preston.
New Artistic Director for Expressions Dance Co.
Expressions Dance Company announced in September that internationally acclaimed, Brisbane-based choreographer, Natalie Weir, will join the Company as its new Artistic Director in January 2009.
Weir said “this is an exciting and logical step in my career as a choreographer taking on the challenge of artistically guiding an ensemble based contemporary dance company. For the last few years I have been preparing for such an opportunity and I was delighted to accept the position when it was offered to me. That it is based in my hometown Brisbane is an added bonus.”
This is an important stage in the history of the 24 year old Expressions Dance Company which was founded by the highly regarded and multi-awarded team of Artistic Director Maggi Sietsma AM and General Manager Abel Valls. With ongoing Government support, Weir’s role will be critical in preserving the ensemble-based company and building on the solid reputation and audience base that Expressions has established in Brisbane and around the world. www.expressions.org.au
Regional Queensland Readers: Win tickets to On Thin Ice, by Expressions Dance Company. Click Here
Expressions Dance Company - On Thin Ice Regional Tour
In the world around us, dramatic changes are taking place…
Date: October 15th- November 1st
Locations: Toowoomba, Maryborough, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Caloundra, Gold Coast
Click here to win...
Short Sweet + Dance Returns in 2009
Following it’s inaugural, sellout season, Short Sweet+Dance will return in February 2009 at the Seymour Centre Downstairs in Sydney. The expanded three-week season will showcase short dance pieces (up to 10 minutes in length) by professional choreographers, and feature many established and emerging performing artists. Submissions for the festival are now open and close 3rd November 2008. Short-listed applicants will be invited to attend a showing day in late November where choreographers and dancers will present a short excerpt/explanation of the proposed work. From this audition, a panel of industry professionals will select thirty works for inclusion in the festival -which runs from February 23rd to March 14th next year. Festival Director, Olivia Ansell, said she was thrilled with the success of Short Sweet+Dance last year , the popularity of the program has ensured the need to expand and move to the larger Seymour Centre venue.
Last year’s debut season sent a galaxy of stars into the orbit of fame & success! Vanessa Sew Hoy went on to make the final six of Channel 10’s “So You Think You Can Dance”. Marko Panzic, winner of the festival’s Outstanding Male Dancer award made SYTYCD’s final 20 while Paul Bennett also featured prominently on the TV show. Sarah Boulter, who created the work Inner Sole has established herself as regular guest choreographer on the show as has Juliette Verne.Kay Armstrong who also choreographed and danced in a winning piece is now in her second year as Artistic Director of the acclaimed youth dance company Pulse8.
For regular updates and to download entry forms, visit www.shortandsweet.org/short-sweet-dance/about
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