dancenorth-australia
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Dancenorth is a professional dance production company based in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. As Australia's fastest growing dance company under the current artistic directorship of Gavin Webber, Dancenorth are known for producing innovative, exhilarating and 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]
Gavin, accompanied by Rehearsal Director and wife Michelle Ryan, have extensive international recognition and experience in directing, producing, teaching/workshopping, creation and performance and have expanded critical acclaim for the company. Gavin has a 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. Based in the School of Arts building, in the Townsville City Centre, the company have its own dedicated high-quality rehearsal and performance space.[4]
With close links to Brisbane Powerhouse and other production companies around the world[4] Dancenorth maintain a balance between local popularity and international acclaim. The company is powered with a passion to demystify dance and make it more accessible, removing the idea that it is pretentious, particularly in their work with regional communities and throughout their many and varied educational programs.[5]
Dancenorth offers three workshops to groups, schools and students: Introduction to Dancenorth technique, Movement workshop and Masterclass. The production company has 6 core dancers who are predominantly graduates from Queensland University of Technology, where Webber taught prior to taking up his position as Dancenorth's 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]
Dancenorth employs 13 full time staff, is a not-for-profit organisation and is managed by a Board of Directors.
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[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. [6]
From 1983 to 1984, 16 new works were created for the new profession/amateur company.[7]
In 1985 the Company became fully professional and changed its name to Dancenorth 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 and 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.[8]
Dance North became dancenorth-australia in 2006[5] and has become a vital part of North Queensland's artistic and theatric culture. In 2007, dancenorth took to the streets in between productions to raise awareness of dance through their participation in local Townsville community events. Still as Queenslands's only regional dance company and one of only two regional dance companies in Australia, Dancenorth provides an important cultural and dance presence in Townsville whilst contributing to dance on an international level. On 15 February 2007, Her Excellency the Governor of Queensland, Ms Quentin Bryce, AC kindly accepted dancenorth's invitation to become the company's patron, further solidifying dancenorth as an integral part of Queensland's arts culture.
In 2008, Dancenorth have refreshed and consolidated their image to accurately reflect the company's revitalised perspective whilst creatively reflecting their ambitions, artistic direction and philosophy.
[edit] Dancenorth in present
[edit] Artistic Director
Gavin Webber was appointed to the position of Dancenorth Artistic Director in June of 2005 and has been involved in dance theatre for well over a decade. Born in Adelaide, an interest in sport lead him to explore the physicality of dance which found him studying at the Centre of Performing Arts in Adelaide.
In 1993 he joined Meryl Tankard’s Australian Dance Theatre and for the next five years he was involved in the creation and performance of 12 works which toured extensively throughout Australia, Europe, United States, Canada and Israel. In 1999, he joined Company Ultima Vez in Belgium under the direction of Wim Vandekeybus, touring Europe, Scandinavia, South America and Asia. It was with Company Ultima Vez that Gavin honed his particular physical style, and in 2003 he returned to Australia and developed his distinctive, athletic technique and honed his skills as a choreographer, teacher and collaborator.
Together with his wife, Michelle Ryan, and two other former Meryl Tankard dancers, Grayson Millwood and Vincent Crowley, Splinter Group was formed in 1993 as a collaborative ensemble working in Brisbane and Berlin. The group was commissioned by Brisbane Powerhouse to produce lawn, the first major commissioned work by the Powerhouse. The production has received enormous critical acclaim both in Australia and Germany and has played to capacity audiences.
In keeping with the collaborative nature of his work, Gavin continues to develop significant artistic partnerships.
[edit] Artistic Manager/Rehearsal Director
Michelle Ryan hails from Townsville and studied dance locally before completing her dance studies at what is now QUT in Brisbane in 1989.
In 1990 she danced with Expressions Dance Company and Australia Folkloric Dance Company before joining The Meryl Tankard Company in Canberra in 1992. She moved with Meryl Tankard to Adelaide and remained with the Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre for 7 years, during which time she was involved in the creation and performance of 13 works. Not only did Michelle tour extensively with the company but she also taught company repertoire to new members and conducted workshops throughout Australia and USA. She still continues her association with Meryl Tankard and over the past few years has worked with her to remount productions all over the world as well as assisting her in London with the choreography of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Beautiful Game (1999).
[edit] Dancenorth Dancers
[edit] Hsin-Ju Chiu
Born in Taiwan, she started dancing when she was five. She was awarded a scholarship from QUT to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) degree in 2003. During her time at QUT she performed in numerous works by national and international choreographers including Jeffrey Ian, Csaba Buday, Shaaron Boughan, Gavin Webber, Ming-Shen Ku, Xing Liang and Keith Hawley. Hsin-Ju is currently undertaking a Masters of Fine Arts degree at QUT, and has joined Dancenorth for a secondment as part of her masters project.
[edit] Kate Harman
Kate completed her dance training at the Queensland University of Technology, gaining an Associate Degree in dance in 2004. Whilst a student, she was given opportunities to work in professional productions for two seasons of Critical Mass and as a corps de ballet member for The Queensland Ballet in 2002 and was a semi-finalist in the International Genee Award. Since graduating Kate has worked with Chrissie Parrot for JAMBIRD in Perth and COMPANY 44 in London. Kate has choreographed for The Queensland Conservatory of Music and The Queensland Dance School of Excellence. Kate appeared for Dancenorth at the end of 2005 for the season of night café, and joined the company as a full-time dancer in 2007.
[edit] Alice Hinde
Alice started her dance training in ballet and contemporary at the early age of four. Originally from Sydney, she moved to Brisbane to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She recently performed in the 2005 Malaysian Dance Festival in Kuala Lumpur. Alice participated in a collaborative exchange project between Creative Industries Dance (QUT) and the Taipei National University of the Arts, culminating in a performance presented at the 2005 Dance Bytes season held in Brisbane. Alice joined the company last year and was recently named in the 2005 Critics’ Survey in the national magazine Dance Australia as “a dancer to watch“.
[edit] Kyle Page
Kyle joined the company in 2005 for a secondment placement and featured as a dancer in all the company’s productions of 2006. Born in Lismore, he grew up in Dubbo and moved to Brisbane when he was 12. His dance training began when he was nine at the Dubbo Ballet School. He studied dance full-time (on full scholarship) at the Australian Dance Performance Institute (formerly the Brisbane Dance Centre) with Barbara Everson and Harold Collins. Kyle has performed at the Sydney Opera house in the Mc Donald's classical ballet scholarship finals two years in a row. Kyle re-joined the company as a full-time dancer in 2007.
[edit] Josh Thomson
Josh graduated from QUT in 2005 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. During which he worked with choreographers Troy Mundy, Csaba Buday and Jeffrey Tan. He also danced in the Brisbane River Festival, performing West Side Story. Josh has toured with Expressions School “Lines in the Sand” to over 80 schools throughout Queensland. Starting with Tas Dance in January 2007, he had the opportunity to perform in the Performing Arts Market on behalf of the company.
[edit] Matt Cornell
Born and raised in Darwin, Matt Cornell is a founding member of Style Impressions Krew, the premiere breakdance crew from the Northern Territory. He graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2006 and has worked as a choreographer and dancer for live theatre, film, rock concerts and music film clips. Matt recently performed in "This Show Is About People" at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Sydney International Arts Festival for which he was named Most Outstanding Dancer (in Dance Australia). Matt also composes soundscapes for live and screen based movement art. www.noiseart.com.au.
[edit] Productions
[edit] 2008
2008 will bring several productions, with the first being a new significant work entitled Remember Me which combines live music, theatre and dance to create a work of great nostalgia and tenderness. Making its world premiere on 8th July as part of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, this production will be the latest and eagerly anticipated new work by the company.
Dancenorth have also been nominated for their first ever Australian Dance Award for the co-produced work with the Brisbane Powerhouse roadkill, which was choreographed by Splinter Group. Also, the company was invited to attend the 8th Australian Performing Arts Market in Adelaide where they also presented an excerpt from roadkill in a prestigious 'Spotlight' presentation.
Also in 2008, the entire company has been invited to take up residency during 'Impulstanz', the Vienna International Dance Festival. No other Australian dance company have been extended this honour.
[edit] 2007
[edit] Underground
Underground was the first production of 2007 and opened in Townsville on the 11th April 2007. Choreographed by Gavin Webber and the dancenorth dancers, it explores a world full of the paranoias and fear of people who utilise public transport. As the final stage of development of the work that began with Gravity Feed, The Courier Mail said of Underground:
"....showcased Webber's style of dance: fast, dangerous, quirky but with a core of almost angry sadness". Underground is set to tour Australia in 2008.
[edit] Roadkill
A couple, stranded in the middle of nowhere with a car that won't start, next to a phone box that doesn't work and their water is running out, is the theme for Roadkill. Presented by dancenorth and the Brisbane Powerhouse in association with Sasha Waltz and Guests and choreographed by Splintergroup, Roadkill is a manic ride down the highway of misconceptions about the heart of this country. The Townsville Bulletin said of Roadkill:
"the physical challenges that the tree dancers constantly embraced were amazing as they hurled their bodies at great speed, force and height into the car and each other.....a surreal outback experience".
A snippet of roadkill: [1]
[edit] Guest Choreographic Season: Outros and dis-integration
dancenorth's guest choreographic season for 2007 involved a double bill, Outros and dis-integration, featuring one work created by guest choreographers Jo Stone and Paulo Castro and a piece by dancenorth's Kate Harman and Alice Hinde. Outros was a further reworking of the 2006 crowd pleaser This You Made Of Me, of which the Townsville Bulletin commented:
"...the dancers... have an enviable range of motion, control, grace and agility... a piece of dance theatre magic".
Whilst dis-integration was a new work which was a social study about territory, space and social order.
[edit] Mesecina Nightcafe 07
The final production for 2007 was Mesecina Nightcafe 07, which was brought back by popular demand. A new set of characters brought audiences with fresh entertainment and intrigue, nightcafe 07 created anarchic evenings of dance and live music. Choreographed by Webber and the dancenorth dancers, the event rocked the Bombay Rock nightclub in September 2007. Doch Gypsy Orchestra, accompanied by Townsville's 1RAR Band, provided the fuel for the many evenings of mayhem as the music's rawness, passion and lyricism got feet moving!
[edit] 2006
[edit] Gravity Feed
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]
[edit] nightcafe 06
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'[9]
“…one of the most comical pieces of contemporary dance theatre…something that everyone, young and old, should witness” Townsville Bulletin[1]
[edit] Seulle
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.[10] Peter Garrett was quoted as saying dancenorth's Seulle... 'was the best dance performance I have ever seen' [11]
[edit] Underneath
Underneath was a cross cultural production combining contemporary Australian and Japanese dance. Originally devised for the Australia-Japan Dance Exchange 2006.[12]
“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 |
|---|---|
Dancenorth
Assistant Directors/Resident Choreographers (1976 – 1982)
North Queensland Ballet Company
|
Dancenorth General Managers:
|
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Dance North official website. The Company. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
- ^ 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 2007-01-05.
- ^ a b c d e f Rosemary Sorensen; MATP, Townsville choreography can embrace the world, Australian, The (Australia), published 20 October 2006, page 14
- ^ a b Northern Miner (Townsville, Australia) Dance North coming published 28 March 2006 p5
- ^ dancenorth-australia official website. The history - The Early Years. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
- ^ dancenorth-australia official website. The history - The pro-am Years. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
- ^ dancenorth-australia official website. The history - The Professional Years. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
- ^ 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
- ^
“…like a tumbled bag of precious jewels – sparkling and glowing.” Cairns Post<ref>{{}}</li> <li id="cite_note-Tvl_Bulletin3-11">'''[[#cite_ref-Tvl_Bulletin3_11-0|^]]''' Isis Stuckenschmidt '''Funky and fresh Dancenorth's new production is a striking collaboration between two cultures.''' Townsville Bulletin published 8 September 2006 p28</li> <li id="cite_note-Dance_North_webpage_-_History4-12">'''[[#cite_ref-Dance_North_webpage_-_History4_12-0|^]]''' {{cite web|url=http://www.dancenorth.com.au/the_history/artistic_directors.htm|title=Dance North official website. Artistic directors|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</li> <li id="cite_note-Dance_North_webpage_-_History5-13">'''[[#cite_ref-Dance_North_webpage_-_History5_13-0|^]]''' {{cite web|url=http://www.dancenorth.com.au/the_history/general_managers.htm|title=Dance North official website. General managers|accessdate=2007-01-05}}</li></ol></ref>
[edit] External links
Official website of Dancenorth [2] Dancenorth bio on the Australia Council for the Arts website. [3] a clip from lawn [4] another clip from lawn
