The Australian Dance Festival is a new event which will take place in Sydney Olympic Park from the 12th to the 14th of June 2009. The event schedule is impressive with dance shows and workshops featuring many of Australia’s best instructors over all forms of dance.
According to the festival’s co-director, Angela Lau:
“Australia has some of the best dance talent in the world including world champions in Tango, Salsa and Ballroom. The goal of our event is to showcase the depth and variety of Australia’s dance talent and provide opportunities for dancers to perform and learn from the very best. We know from other events that we’ve organized [such as the Sydney Salsa Congress] that dancers LOVE to perform. However, the opportunities to do so in a professional environment where the choreography and production are top class are limited. That is unless you’re a professional dancer or you’re good enough to get on a show like So You Think You Can Dance.”
With that in mind, the ADF has appointed Australia’s leading choreographers to create dance routines for dancers from the general public to perform. Dancers will have the opportunity to do 20 hours of classes with their chosen choreographer and if they’re good enough, will be chosen to perform on stage at the ADF.
The event has already attracted much support from many of Australia’s top dance choreographers and celebrities: Travers Ross and Fabio Robles who have both
choreographed for SYTYCD, and Marko Panzic who was a finalist, have all signed up as choreographers. Most recently, Jason Winters (assistant choreographer to Mia Michaels) also agreed to choreograph. They explain below the why, how and what to expect from their involvement in the ADF:
Why did you choose to be involved with the Australian Dance Festival (ADF)?
Fabio: I believe that the ADF is a solid platform for the development of dance in Australia and I want to be a part of this new and innovative concept. I am honoured to be involved so that I can play my role in the development, and hope to set an example for younger choreographers in the future.
Marko: To be a part of an event like this is great as a choreographer to showcase your work and also to educate and inspire dancers across Australia.
Travers: I wanted to be involved with the festival because I run a festival myself (Utopian Dream dancers workshop and entertainment festival) and I really think these events need to be supported by the Industry as it brings us together more to create and build our level of dance and unity in Australia.
Jason: I decided to participate in the ADF mainly because of the great faculty that were already on board. It is always a pleasure to get the opportunity to work along side other choreographers I admire. I also thought the program and use of the internet was very innovative. I think it will be a very successful festival in years to come and I am honored to be involved with the inaugural year.
What do you think the ADF will do for the dance industry?
Fabio: The Australian Dance Festival is one of the most important mediums for not only dancers to be seen, but also for choreographers to put their best work forward with Australian talent.
Marko: I think the ADF will help more dancers around Australia have the opportunity to realise their dreams and to discover what they need to do to become the dancer they want to become. This is amazing for the industry as it gives Australian dance and it's choreographers its very own festival which unites all genres of dance into the one festival. It is a great opportunity for dancers to learn about all the different dance worlds.
Travers: This festival will explode really quick with the choreographers they have on board, I sometimes wish I wasn't choreographing so I could be in other dance works (haha). The festival is covering a wide range of dance styles with well respected choreographers. Come along and get behind it......the more of you there are, the better the energy and the louder the audience is gonna be…
Jason: I believe the ADF will really be a pioneer in the use of technology to further the art of dance itself. Obviously the young generation of today is growing up with the internet and expect it to be a large part of their lives, both socially and career wise. It is a very exciting time for the world in general, and in time I see the human race extremely connected on a personal level. The internet is the tool that will make that a reality. Dancers from all over the world will be able to share ideas, opinions, and support for each other and their cultures. With all the places I am privileged to teach at, I am thrilled to be a small part of that.
What can performers expect to learn from your choreography course?
Fabio: Performers can expect to move their bodies in ways they have never moved before, to listen to melodies and beats they have never heard before, to lead and to follow, to move precisely like the dancer they are holding. Freedom of movement in Tango comes after finding the acute sensitivity to move in sync with someone else.
Marko: My choreography course will cover a lot of style but also technique. Performers will be challenged with a lot of energetic & emotive movement. My work will be a journey with my dancers involved. We will all work together to make something special that we all can connect with.
Travers: Well, they will learn apart of me and where I have traveled, where I have learnt and what has inspired me along my Journey. The piece I will do will be earthy, very new, slick, and always have a meaning. I blend cultures and styles so your head will hurt but if you want to improve your skills come and take a challenge and we could create something Australia has never seen.....TRUST ME.
Jason: I expect that dancers will learn how to be open, generous, brave, and inspired. In a short period of time I hope the performers will walk away thinking in a different direction, and then carry that on into their own personal journey.
Choreography courses for the ADF start in March 2009 with performances to take place on the 12th—14th June 2009 at the State Sports Centre, Sydney Olympic Park.
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