Dance News

Live Performance Australia (LPA) have announced a very special addition to the 2019 Helpmann Awards at Arts Centre Melbourne. Along with previously announced live entertainment for the 2019 Helpmann Awards, a special performance will be beamed direct from The Princess Theatre for the delight of audiences, on Monday 15th July. In a world first, the cast of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child will perform an exclusive montage live from the play’s Australian home, Melbourne’s Princess Theatre.

English National Ballet will return to the Royal Albert Hall in London next summer (17-28 June 2020) with Derek Deane’s critically acclaimed production of Swan Lake in-the-round. 

This biennial Australian choreographic award was launched in 2014, it was formed through a partnership between Dancehouse, Melbourne; Carriageworks, Sydney and the Keir Foundation. The Keir Foundation, Carriageworks and Dancehouse have announced that the cash prize for the 2020 Keir Choreographic Award has increased to $50,000. Entries for the biennial competition are open until July 14, 2019.

Hayes Theatre Co is thrilled to announce the cast of the Australian Premiere of the Olivier Award-winning musical CAROLINE, OR CHANGE. Directed by four time Helpmann Award winner Mitchell Butel, this uplifting and profound musical by Tony Kushner (Angels in America) and Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Violet) will play at the Hayes from 23 August.

The Australian Youth Dance Festival offers an opportunity to see incredible work by youth companies in the Revolutions Per Minute gala performances.Wednesday 10 July at 7pm and Thursday 11 July at 7pm.

This summer, London’s esteemed all-children ballet company are reviving their 2001 hit, Ballet Shoes (based on the much loved children’s novel by Noel Streatfeild). The show - which will run at London’s Peacock Theatre from 4th-7th July - marks London Children’s Ballet’s 25th Anniversary season and will be brought to life by the company’s talented cast comprising 56 young dancers aged 9-16. 

Applications are open for the 12th annual Sharp Short Dance, a dance festival presented by FORM Dance Projects at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres from 12th to 16th November.

Now under the direction of Amy Hollingsworth, EDC will be holding an open audition on Saturday, 10 August 2019 for both male and female dancers in Brisbane, QLD. In line with the demands of her new vision for the company they will be seeking dancers who possess excellence in both physical and creative skills.

Dancenorth are thrilled to have recently secured funding through the Ian Potter Foundation to support the Dancenorth Artistic Capacity and Leadership Development Program being held in Queensland. The program will provide a myriad of opportunities to dancers and dance makers by way of residencies, mentorships, secondments and employment, affirming the Company’s growing position as a regional epicentre for collaboration, innovation, artistic exchange and excellence. 

Australia’s leading theatre producer John Frost has announced that the Broadway smash hit SHREK THE MUSICAL is coming to Australia. This lavish and fun multi-million dollar musical will open at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, The Star in early January 2020, followed by seasons at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne and the Lyric Theatre, Brisbane.

Jason Donovan will be joining the cast of the multi-award winning, record breaking musical CHICAGO this December at The State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne from December 14th 2019. Playing the role of the cunning and charismatic lawyer Billy Flynn, this will be the first time Jason has appeared on stage in a musical in Australia.

The 2019 Victorian State Schools Spectacular (VSSS) will bring together 3000 young performers from more than 200 government schools across Victoria, for two shows on Saturday 14 September at Melbourne Arena. The Spectacular contributes towards a key Education State target of improving critical and creative thinking, and of more Victorian students achieving the highest levels of achievement in the arts by 2025.