Nanette Hassall given Dance Awards Lifetime Achievement Award

Nanette Hassall has been selected by the Australian Dance Awards panel as this year’s winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Nanette Hassall’s contribution to Australian dance has been extraordinary,” states Ms Saunders, Director, Ausdance WA. Her careers spans decades and she has excelled in many different roles – as performer, choreographer, director and teacher.”

After a distinguished career overseas with Merce Cunningham Company and Richard Alston’s Strider in London, Ms Hassall returned to Australia and was one of the exciting young choreographers at the 1976 Armidale choreographic seminars, along with Graeme Murphy. With Russell Dumas she formed Dance Exchange where they did some of the earliest practice-based dance research in Australia. Nan then formed Danceworks in Melbourne to encourage younger choreographers and to nurture their talents.

Ms Hassall has choreographed over forty works and is currently the Head of the Dance Department at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts where she continues to employ and nurture young choreographers and to train outstanding dancers who are in demand both in Australia and abroad.
“Ms Hassall’s legacy is incalculable,” states Ms Saunders.

“It is truly wonderful that she has been honoured in this way and at a time when the Australian Dance Awards are being held in Perth for the first time.”

Nanette Hassall will be presented the Award at the Australian Dance Awards ceremony at the Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre, Perth on Saturday 1 September 2012.

The Australian Dance Awards presents Awards in ten categories. It is the one night of the year when dance creators, performers, educators and enthusiasts gather together to acknowledge and honour their peers.

All dance-lovers are invited to attend the gala event and tickets can now be purchased through BOCS Ticketing www.bocsticketing.com.au/whats-on/1378/australian-dance-awards

For more information, about the Awards visit the Ausdance WA website: www.ausdancewa.org.au