2017 ‘Sharp Short Dance’ registrations open

Registrations are now open for the 10th Annual Sharp Short Dance presented by FORM Dance Projects on November 14-18. Aspiring choreographers and dancers aged 21 years and under are invited to take part in the competitive dance festival for a chance to win awards, secondments and prizes.

Sharp Short Dance aims to encourage youth participation in all genres of dance, and provides a platform for choreographers and dancers to strive for artistic excellence, showcase their talent and network with peers and industry experts.

Submissions selected for Sharp Short Dance will compete in one of three rounds of heats, with winners progressing to the final on Saturday evening at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. The judging panel for each round will be comprised of industry professionals who will be looking for excellence in performance and innovative choreography.

“What I love about Sharp Short Dance is the unique environment it provides for young aspiring choreographers and performers,’ said Producer Carl Sciberras. “Unlike other performance environments such as eisteddfods and local festivals, Sharp Short Dance encourages young people to take control of their creative visions, under the guidance and mentorship of professionals.”

Sharp Short Dance participants are eligible for the festival’s many awards, including Outstanding Male and Female Performers, Most Innovative Choreography, Outstanding Solo, Duet and Ensemble Performances, and the Audience Choice Award.

Participants are also eligible for highly sought-after industry secondment opportunities with major professional dance companies, such as The Dream Dance Company, the Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year, Dance Makers Collective and for the first time, Legs On The Wall.

“Legs on the Wall is super excited to offer a secondment this year! There’s great talent in the festival and we can’t wait to provide one young dancer with an opportunity to continue to grow their skills,” said of Legs On The Wall’s Co-Artistic Director Joshua Thomson.

To download a 2017 application form, visit www.form.org.au/sharp-short-dance-2017. The deadline to apply is Monday, October 16. See a rundown of all the key dates below.

KEY DATES:

Registrations: Open from Monday, June 5 and close Monday, October 16

Heat One: Jazz, tap and lyrical dance works. 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14

Heat Two: Classical and contemporary dance works. 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15

Heat Three: Cultural, hip-hop and street dance works. 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 16

Final: Saturday, November 18

Photo: Sharp Short Dance Award Winner Sophie Carter (right) with Cassandra Spilling in her duet Jewellery Box, which won the 2016 Most Innovative Choreography Award. Photo by Dom O’Donnell.