Expressions Dance Company

Expressions Dance Company
Type Theatre group
Purpose Contemporary Dance
Location
  • Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts,Level 3/420 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006
Membership
 Michelle Barnett, Daryl Brandwood, Benjamin Chapman, Cloudia Elder, Rebecca Hall, Elise May and Jack Ziesing
Artistic director(s)
 Natalie Weir

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]

Between 1984 and 1989, the company has danced the work of a number of choreographers. These choreographers include Natalie Weir, Don Aske,[2] Shaaron Boughen, Eleanor Brickhill, Jacqui Carroll, Julie Chenery, Rosetta Cook, Michelle Ferrier, Garry Lester, Brian Luca], Angus Lugsdin, Gail McIntosh, John Nobbs, Rober Osmotherly, Sue Peacock, Cathy Quinn, Deborah Saxon, Garry Stewart, Jonathan Taylor, Graeme Watson and Margaret Wilson; in later years, Kristen Bell, Guy Detot, Jennifer Flowers, Nik Hills, Ross Hounslow, Jane Pirani, Jaime Redfern and John Utans.
By the 2000s, Expressions Dance Company had performed works of Tiina Alinen, Emily Amisano, Tsung Lung Cheng, Dan Crestani, Peter Furness, Luke Hockley, Vanessa Mafe-Keane, Elise May, Justin Rutzou, Zaimon & Elizabeth Vilmanis, Jim Vile, Sally Wicks and Lisa Wilson.

Tours and Festivals

Expressions Dance Company has toured extensively and performed internationally, including:

Apart from performing, Expressions Dance Company also undertakes significant school and community dance education activities.[2] The beginning of a groundbreaking partnership, Queensland University of Technology Creative Industries was recognised as Expression Dancer Company's training partner in 2010. In the same year, the Brisbane Contemporary Dance Intensive (BCDI) and up-skilling day (Focus) for high school teachers were introduced, and remain respected programmes for the dance industry.

Broader impact

Expressions Dance Company has employed many people within Australia's cultural industry. These include critically acclaimed dancers, choreographers, designers and dramaturgs:

Awards

Works

Works performed by Expressions Dance Company include:

“ Weir’s Jigsaw explored phobias, as well as fear of intimacy. She worked closely with designer Bruce McKinven on a set design, which was integral to the work; with multiple pieces that opened and closed like a jigsaw ”
“ This is the sort of work I love to create – rich, emotional & touching, where people are left moved. ”

Other Productions

Launch Pad

'Launch Pad' provides emerging choreographers with the opportunity to create new short works with the professional dancers in a professional company situation.

The choreographers for the 2010 season were:


The choreographers for the 2011 season were:

The choreographers for the 2012 season were:

Propel (the next step)

The choreographers for the 2013 season[10] were:

SOLO Festival of Dance

References

  1. ↑ The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts. "Resident Cultural Organisations". The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  2. 1 2 3 National Library of Australia (2008-09-24). "Australia Dancing — Expressions Dance Company, (1985 - )" (text). Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  3. ↑ Clarke, Suzanna (2008-09-23). "New artistic director for Expressions". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  4. ↑ Clarke, Suzanna (2008-09-27). "Natalie Weir is Expressions Dance Company artistic director". The Courier-Mail. ISSN 1322-5235. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  5. ↑ Sorensen, Rosemary (2007-08-24). "Maker of Unconventional Moves". The Australian. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  6. ↑ "Award Winners' Showcase" (flash). Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  7. ↑ "2007 Drover Winners". Australian Performing Arts Centres Association. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  8. ↑ Anderson, Jack (1999-07-12). "DANCE REVIEW; No Escape From Solitude Despite Close Encounters". New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  9. ↑ Stewart, Olivia (2007-08-25). "Double bill one to remember". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  10. ↑ Wills, Gillian (2013-05-03). "Propel (the next step)". Retrieved 2015-06-23.

External links

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