Dancenorth australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
dancenorth australia is a professional dance production company based in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. It produces and presents works of original contemporary dance theatre for regional, national and international audiences.
"The creative philosophy is one of collaboration, combining a young and dynamic core group of dancers with experienced artists (choreographers, dancers and musicians) to inspire diversity and freshness whilst maintaining its distinctive style." [1]
Currently dancenorth is artistically directed by Gavin Webber, accompanied by his wife Michelle Ryan as Artistic Manager. The pair have extensive international recognition and experience in directing, producing, teaching/workshopping, creation and performance and have expanded critical acclaim for dancenorth. Gavin Webber has an unusual (and suitable for North Queensland) background in sport and Michelle Ryan, born in Townsville in 1970[2], started her dancing training locally before moving to what is now the Queensland University of Technology.[3][4]
The Australia Council announced in 2006, for the first time, that dancenorth has become an one of "Australia’s outstanding arts organisations" and will receive triennial funding. "Along with an increase in grant monies, the announcement is an acknowledgment of Webber and Ryan's ambitious international plans for the small, regionally based company." The Australian[4][1]
dancenorth has a strong reputation, despite its isolation. It is based in the School of Arts building, in the Townsville City Centre close to the landmark Castle Hill. It has its own dedicated high-quality rehearsal and performance space.[4]
However dancenorth will be moving in the near future to the new Townsville Arts Hub which will be situated at the old railway station site on Flinders Street West. dancenorth will share the new performing arts space with a capacity of 250-300, rehearsal and administration areas with Tropic Sun Theatre. Additionally there will be administration offices for the North Queensland Concerto and Vocal Competition, Music Centre North Queensland, Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Extensions Youth Dance Company, Townsville Little Theatre and North Queensland Ensembles. The Arts Hub is predicted to be completed by mid-2008 and will cost Townsville City Council and the State Government about $10 million.[5]
With close links to Brisbane Powerhouse and other production companies around the world[4] the Company maintains a balance between local popularity and international acclaim. It tries to demystify dance and make it more accessible, removing the idea that it is pretentious, particularly in their work with regional communities.[6]
dancenorth offers three workshops to groups, schools and students: Introduction to dancenorth technique, Movement workshop and Masterclass. The production company has a half-dozen core dancers who are predominantly graduates from Queensland University of Technology, where Webber taught before taking up his position of Artistic Director[4].
Dancenorth is a somewhat unlikely presence in Townsville, a city better known for its rugby league team, the North Queensland Cowboys, than its dancers. Yet it attracts brilliant artists and hosts adventurous productions of contemporary dance... QMagazine[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
What is now dancenorth began as the North Queensland Ballet Company. In 1969 Ann Roberts, Principle of the Ann Roberts School of Dancing and parents in Townsville who were concerned by the lack of opportunities for young ballet dancers in North Queensland, spearheaded a public meeting to assess public interest in forming a North Queensland ballet company.
The North Queensland Ballet and Dance Company was established 17 July 1969. From the first audition 41 students were accepted including one from Ayr, five from Cairns and a Mt Isa girl.
Between 1970 and 1982, the North Queensland Ballet Company presented:
- 24 original ballets created especially for the company
- 3 productions with excerpts from full-length ballets
- 3 full-length ballets re-created for the company.
- 2 historical ballets created especially for the company.
- 10 one-act ballets created or re-created for the company. [7]
From 1983 to 1984, 16 new works were created for the new profession/amateur company.[8]
In 1985 the Company became fully professional and changed its name to Dance North becoming a dance institute which primarily trains and performs in the Townsville region but tours extensively both nationally and internationally. The first director Cheryl Stock is now professor of dance at Queensland University of Technology. Stock is now supervising the postgraduate studies in dance of dancenorth's current Artistic Director Gavin Webber.[2]
1998 saw the premiering of Luuli, a unique and rich collaboration between dancenorth and Woomera Aboriginal Corporation which fuses traditional Aboriginal dance with contemporary western dance. The production is seen by more than 30,000 people around Australia over next couple of years.[9]
Dance North became dancenorth australia in 2006[6] and has become a vital part of North Queensland's artistic and theatric culture, participating actively in many community events. It will in the near future move into the new Townsville Arts Hub.
[edit] Productions
[edit] 2007
[edit] 2006
In 2006 the most ambitious production was Gravity Feed, "which required the young dancers to throw themselves against walls and against each other in choreographic moves of bruising intensity"[4]. Gravity Feed was also the first full-length piece created by Webber at dancenorth.
“Ripe with metaphor resonating with ideas of chance, death and resuscitation, this work challenged the very concepts of gravity…mesmerising.” Dance Australia[1]
nightcafe 06 was the final production for 2006, a lively dance party which focused on live music and audience participation with a 'rock band jazz feel'[10]
“…one of the most comical pieces of contemporary dance theatre…something that everyone, young and old, should witness” Townsville Bulletin[1]
Seulle was a production in partnership with the Australian Festival of Chamber Music choreographed by world-renowned Meryl Tankard. Using rear projection lighting together with transparent screens on stage, allowed for combined real and silhouetted dance expressions to unique harp music.[11] Peter Garrett was quoted as saying dancenorth's Seulle... 'was the best dance performance I have ever seen' [12]
“…like a tumbled bag of precious jewels – sparkling and glowing.” Cairns Post[1]
Underneath was a cross cultural production combining contemporary Australian and Japanese dance. Originally devised for the Australia-Japan Dance Exchange 2006.[13]
“The performers are masters of their art, clearly in control of the often fast and frantic dance.” The Australian[1]
[edit] People
| Artistic directors | General managers |
|---|---|
Dance North
Assistant Directors/Resident Choreographers (1976 – 1982)
North Queensland Ballet Company
|
Dance North
|
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Dance North official website. The Company. Retrieved on January 5, 2007.
- ^ a b c Rosemary Sorensen spirit of the dance QWeekend Magazine (Brisbane, Australia) published 16 September 2006 p24
- ^ Dance North official website. The People - The Creators. Retrieved on January 5, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f Rosemary Sorensen; MATP, Townsville choreography can embrace the world, Australian, The (Australia), published 20 October 2006, page 14
- ^ Casey-Ann Seaniger GO FOR HUB Townsville Sun Community Newspaper published 20 September 2006 p1
- ^ a b Northern Miner (Townsville, Australia) Dance North coming published 28 March 2006 p5
- ^ Dance North official website. The history - The Early Years. Retrieved on January 5, 2007.
- ^ Dance North official website. The history - The pro-am Years. Retrieved on January 5, 2007.
- ^ Dance North official website. The history - The Professional Years. Retrieved on January 5, 2007.
- ^ Townsville Bulletin The Guide Dancenorth reworks winning recipe published 20 October 2006 p34
- ^ Cairns Sun, The (Australia) A very rare opportunity published 19 July 2006 p20
- ^ Mary Vernon Thrilled with fabulous festival Australian Festival of Chamber Music chair Marg O'Donnell is thrilled that twin cities residents embraced the festival this year and attended events in droves. Townsville Bulletin published 12 August 2006 p85.
- ^ Isis Stuckenschmidt Funky and fresh Dancenorth's new production is a striking collaboration between two cultures. Townsville Bulletin published 8 September 2006 p28
- ^ Dance North official website. Artistic directors. Retrieved on January 5, 2007.
- ^ Dance North official website. General managers. Retrieved on January 5, 2007.
