Expressions Dance Company
Expressions Dance Company is an Australian contemporary dance company based in the The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, in Fortitude Valley.[1] It was founded in 1984 by Maggi Sietsma, Artistic Director and Abel Valls, General Manager (and composer for many works).[2] Expressions has experienced 30% reductions in funding by the Arts Queensland,[3] subsequently Sietsma and Valls announced their intention to finish and Natalie Weir took over as Artistic Director in January 2009.[4]
The company has danced the work of a number of choreographers, including, in 1985, Natalie Weir, Rosetta Cook and Graeme Watson; and in later years Jonathan Taylor, Margaret Wilson, Guy Detot, John Nobbs, Jacqui Carroll, Garry Stewart, Brian Lucas, Sue Peacock and Don Aske.[2]
The company has toured extensively, including: America, China, Germany, Switzerland, Macau, Korea, Singapore, Israel, New Caledonia, Austria, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico and Great Britain;[5] and undertakes significant school and community dance education activities.[2] Expressions Dance company has performed internationally
Broader impact
Expressions Dance Company has employed many people within Australia's cultural industry. These include critically acclaimed dancers, choreographers, designers and dramaturgs:
- Drama Consultant Jennifer Flowers — directing credits include Sydney Theatre Company including as Associate Director to Cate Blanchett, Queensland Theatre Company, Grin and Tonic Theatre Company, Harvest Rain
- Costume Designer Deslye Kruck - a director, actor and costume designer, also lectured Drama and Speech at the Queensland University of Technology
- Choreographer Natalie Weir — choreographed for the Hong Kong Ballet, Australian Ballet, West Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet, Australian Dance Theatre, Dancenorth and Tasdance[6] and to return to Expressions from January 2009.
Awards
- 1996 – Awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award for outstanding achievement in the performing arts[7]
- 2007 – Awarded two Drover Awards: Tour Management Excellence and Special Panel Award for Innovation[8]
Works
Works performed by Expressions Dance Company include:
- Snow Drops, (1985), choreographer: Maggi Sietsma at the national conference of the Australian Society for Education in the Arts.
- Alone Together, (1995), choreographer: Maggi Sietsma
- Decadances (1999)[9]
- Jigsaw, choreographer: Natalie Weir
- Alone Together
- Vanities Crossing, (1999), choreographer: Maggi Sietsma
- Virtually Richard3, (2000), choreographer: Maggi Sietsma
- Rites of Spring, (2002), choreographer: Maggi Sietsma
- Flight!, (2003), choreographer: Maggi Sietsma
- The 5th Door, (2004), choreographer: Maggi Sietsma
- On Thin Ice, (2008), choreographer: Maggi Sietsma
- Memory[10]
- Jigsaw (previously performed in 1999)
- Fragments of Memory, (2007), choreographer: Cheng Tsung-Lung formerly a dancer with Cloud Gate Dance Theatre
References
- ↑ The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts. "Resident Cultural Organisations". The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 National Library of Australia (2008-09-24). "Australia Dancing — Expressions Dance Company, (1985 - )" (text). Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ↑ Clarke, Suzanna (2008-09-23). "New artistic director for Expressions". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ↑ Clarke, Suzanna (2008-09-27). "Natalie Weir is Expressions Dance Company artistic director". The Courier-Mail. ISSN 1322-5235. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ↑ Expressions Dance Company: Student information accessed 4 October 2008
- ↑ Sorensen, Rosemary (2007-08-24). "Maker of Unconventional Moves". The Australian. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ↑ "Award Winners' Showcase" (flash). Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ↑ "2007 Drover Winners". Australian Performing Arts Centres Association. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ↑ Anderson, Jack (1999-07-12). "DANCE REVIEW; No Escape From Solitude Despite Close Encounters". New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ↑ Stewart, Olivia (2007-08-25). "Double bill one to remember". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2008-10-04.