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DANCE ACTION
MEMBERS eMag
Vol. 38 Issue 2
Dancers in Schools
Bollywood dancing with CSBD
Farewell to Director Neil Roach
Fortuity with Elizabeth Cameron Dalman
Youth Dance Festival Sponsorship Opportunities
Ausdance ACT dancer in schools teacher Kylee Sharpe (centre, bottom row) delivered an African dance workshop at
Amaroo School. And it was a huge hit. Teacher Angela Fattore bottom row right
Bookings through the Ausdance ACT office. Photo Kylee Sharpe
Next MOVE UP! Teacher Workshop
11 April 2015
Ausdance ACT presents a Move Up! workshop in Classical Indian
Dance with Professional artist Liz Lea, on Saturday 11th April 2015
2-4pm at Canberra Dance Theatre Studio.
Liz will teach a workshop that explores Bharata Natyam - one of
the six classical Indian dance styles. The form is characterised by
intricate hand gestures, geometric lines, foot rhythms and facial
expressions.
One of the most beautiful of the Indian forms, the style finds an exquisite balance between story telling
and pure dance.
Suitable for all Primary and Secondary teachers. Teacher identified hours.
Perfect for the new curriculum!
For more details and to register please visit: http://ausdanceact.org.au/development/move-upprofessional-learning or contact: [email protected] or 6247 9103.
31 MARCH 2015
Ticket to India from the inside
by Nisha Gupta, Dancer with Canberra School of Bollywood Dancing
Being an actor and a dancer for the eighth
annual dance production ‘Ticket to India’
performed at Gungahlin College Theatre,
presented by Canberra School of Bollywood
Dancing (CSBD) was a thrilling and an exciting
journey which I loved to be part of. The musical
dance production was a glamorous and
an extravagant Bollywood spectacle which
was one of the numerous concerts CSBD has
successfully presented since 2006.
The concert ‘Ticket to India’ was about a
journey of five youthful women and one mother
who decide to travel to some of the most
famous and popular cities of India including
Delhi, Varanasi, Chennai, Kerala and of course
the Bollywood central, Mumbai. It was an amazing experience for everybody involved in this
production particularly by watching over sixty beautiful dancers all adorned in different dazzling
costumes, all bursting with bright colours. Together, the whole CSBD team put together an explosive
and energetic musical which the audience were so excited and enthusiastic about, while sitting
and watching the show.
I have been at the school ever since it started in 2006. Each year, I have witnessed the progress
of the production and how it is getting bigger and better year by year. I love to participate and
dance in every CSBD production as it is a completely new experience every time. Through the
dance school and its concerts, I meet new people every year and have great loads of fun along
with doing my daily exercise.
In this concert, I was one of the five girls who were involved in the acting to depict the storyline
of travelling around the fascinating and colourful country, India. I have never acted before in my
life, where I have only been dancing through this school. However, I was asked and was given the
opportunity to enhance my passion and not only dance, but also add some interesting and funny
drama throughout this concert.
Each annual concert requires a great load of dedication, commitment and hard work to
participate. All actors and dancers must commit and rehearse for hours on the weekend with their
group, to ensure that each routine that makes up the production looks perfect, in sync and visually
appealing. And every person has so much fun and puts great amounts of enthusiasm into it. It is a
fantastic show for everyone especially those who participate as they are able to show off all their
wonderful talents and what they have learnt at the school to their family and friends.
All the CSBD dancers would like to sincerely
thank and congratulate our artistic director and
choreographer of Canberra School of Bollywood
Dancing, Ms Krisha Jilson. She worked tirelessly for
months to put this production together to ensure
everything ran smoothly on the night and it was a
huge success.
So… What are you waiting for? Put your
Bollywood dancing shoes on and join the crazy
ride! You don’t need to be a dancer or have any
experience; you just need to bring your sense of
fun and enthusiasm with you! Join your nearest
Canberra School of Bollywood Dancing class
and maybe you will be in our next concert…?
The Ausdance Pro Class Wednesdays at BAC
Every Wednesday 10am – 11:30am during term time, low-cost class for independent professional dancers in the beautiful dance studio of the Belconnen
Arts Centre. Any independent dancer is welcome, local or just visiting - no bookings required, Check our Facebook page to see who’s leading the class.
Farewell to Ausdance ACT Director Neil Roach
After more than seven years as Director of
Ausdance ACT, Neil Roach has elected to
leave Ausdance ACT in search of pastures new.
Neil was first invited by past President Meredith
Hinchliffe to take on the role in 2008. In that
time he has steadily built Ausdance ACT’s
support for professional dance, anchored Youth
Dance Festival, and quietly managed to be a
consistent presence in - and voice for - dance
in the ACT and region.
He is particularly proud of the activities in 2013,
the year of the Centenary of Canberra. In that
year, Ausdance ACT created and managed a January Summer School with a stream for teachers;
Australian Dance Week celebrations in May; the full production of the 2013 Australian Dance
Awards for 6 August in Canberra, which had a huge benefit for local and national professional
dance; the full production for Youth Dance Festival in September; managed 13 auspices/grants
for productions across five different funding bodies and helped write nine funding applications for
2014 consideration; hosted dance forums - and Neil also made sure Ausdance ACT ran effectively,
came in under budget, and was still open to helping dancers as needed.
He would like to thank other staff members for their work and support, and the successive Boards
of Management, especially the previous President Meredith Hinchliffe and the current President
Lauren Honcope. Their support, and the support of the Board Members, has been extraordinary
and gratefully received. Neil will now take some long-overdue holidays with his family before
returning to work on the 2015 Australian Dance Awards in Adelaide.
Photo Neil Roach backstage at the 2014 Youth Dance Festival, Canberra Word of Mouth
Fortuity
With Elizabeth Cameron Dalman at The Courtyard Studio
In Fortuity, Elizabeth, with Mirramu Dance Company and
visiting dance artists, takes you on a journey through significant
choreographies of contemporary dance from the sixties to the
present day. Elizabeth celebrates both her own continuing dance
practice since founding Australian Dance Theatre in 1965, and also
the continuance of ADT itself in all of its permutations and under
a variety of artistic directors over the 40 years since she left the
company and went on to a new stage of life in Italy.
There are just five performances of Fortuity and each will be a little
different in order to present the many and varied key choreographic
works of the last 50 years. From her perspective as one of Australia’s
principal elders of dance and one with an ongoing professional
practice, Elizabeth will provide insight in to the development of
contemporary dance as part of this production.
Opening on Saturday 9 May 8pm, Sunday 10 May 2.30pm + artists’ forum, Friday 15 May 6pm /
Saturday 16 May 8pm , Sunday 17 May 2.30pm + artists’ forum
This production at Canberra Theatre’s Courtyard also pays respect to and celebrates the 50th
anniversary of Canberra Theatre who have provided generous support for the Fortuity project.
Funding support by the ACT Government is also gratefully acknowledged.
Tickets from Canberra Ticketing https://www.canberraticketing.com.au
Canberra Dancers Going Places
Dimity Azoury is the Telstra Ballet Dancer of the Year 2014. Photo James Braund
William Fitzgerald is dancing with the Royal New Zealand Ballet and Jasmin Durham
is dancing with The Australian Ballet.
Adelina Larsson is teaching at WAAPA.
William Tran has a new dance video on his Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/WillTranOfficial
Cadi McCarthy has founded Flipside Dance Inc, a contemporary and
dance theatre ‘not for profit’ organisation for young people and emerging artists
based in Newcastle. Canberran Jake Kuzma is a guest artist. That’s Cadi on the right.
Sponsorship Packages Available
The 31st Youth Dance Festival is on and there are new sponsorship opportunities
The Ausdance ACT Youth Dance Festival has been providing the youth of Canberra with the
opportunity to dance in a professional theatre environment since 1985. For many, this amazing
event will live with them as perhaps their only opportunity to experience a full theatre production
that works with them to build self esteem, teamwork, and supports what they want to express. But
it’s more than a show – Dance Fest supports the dancers all the way.
Contact Emma Dykes at Ausdance ACT on 02 6247 9103 or email [email protected]
to discuss this rare opportunity to support and be seen supporting this exceptional event.
http://ausdanceact.org.au/development/youth-dance-festival/
Dancers in Schools
Bookings are now open for Ausdance ACT’s Dancers in Schools program offering students the unique
opportunity to learn from an experienced dance artist. This program will provide quality assured, approved
WWVP, insured and experienced professionals who can personalise program content to work within the
curriculum and the class program. Including specialists in Contemporary, Hip Hop, Bollywood, Boys In Dance
and much more. Just call Ausdance ACT to discuss your needs on 02 6247 9103
Lucy Guerin’s HOTBED Applications are Open for 2015
Hotbed returns in 2015 with two workshops. Please complete the online application form at
http://lucyguerininc.com/studio/hotbed by MONDAY 20 APRIL. Places are VERY limited and only
available through the application. More info on the Lucy Guerin Inc website
P 02 6247 9103
www.ausdanceact.org.au
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/ausdanceact