Ausdance SA may close after funding cut

Ausdance SA, the leading provider of dance services for South Australia, has announced that it may have to close its doors after the State Government recently cut its funding. This Wednesday, December 23 at 7 p.m., Ausdance SA will host an emergency meeting to determine the organisation’s future. The public is invited.  

An article in The Advertiser explained that the SA arm of the national Ausdance network (which operates in all states except Tasmania and the Northern Territory) was appointed $100,000 from the State Government this year, “down from $150,000 in 2014. Its application for triennial funding from 2016 to 2018 was rejected.”

The board has reportedly stepped down and no staff remains according to President Jo McDonald. She’s urging all SA dancers and supporters to attend Wednesday’s meeting.

She told The Advertiser, “If there are members of the Ausdance SA community who would like to see the organisation continue, and it is possible to form a new board, the membership could opt to continue the organisation in a volunteer capacity.”

The organisation would essentially be returning to its roots – as Ausdance SA was initially managed by volunteers after it was incorporated in 1987. Award-winning dancer and choreographer Larissa McGowan, a member of the outgoing board, said this was “really sad and distressing.”

Using stronger language, SA dance frontrunner Leigh Warren called this a scandal, citing that not one SA dance entity received funding for 2016 through the State Government funding body Arts SA.

“Ausdance is such an important communicator and network for all kinds of activity,” he told The Advertiser. “It’s appalling. We’ve gone backwards 30 years.”

Amongst many other losses, if Ausdance SA closed it would mean a $17,000 dance floor specially installed in the organisation’s city studio would be lost.

To attend the emergency meeting, head to Ausdance SA’s offices on Level 3 of The Atrium, located at Station Arcade at 136 North Terrace in Adelaide. Visit www.ausdancesa.org.au for further information.