Dance News

One of Australia’s most brilliant ballerinas will prepare her pointe shoes for the very last time next month. After an illustrious 15-year career on stage, Principal Artist Kirsty Martin has announced that she will retire at the end of The Merry Widow season in Melbourne. Her last show in the title role will be Monday July 4. Kirsty joined The Australian Ballet in 1995. In 2000, she and fellow dancer and partner Damien Welch headed to Europe to dance with acclaimed Nederlands Dans Theater I. They returned to Australia and rejoined the company in 2002. Kirsty was promoted to Principal in 2003.

The annual Helpmann Awards recognise distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in the many disciplines of Australia's vibrant live performance sectors, including musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, opera, classical music, theatre, dance and physical theatre. This year's lucky nominees have been announced...

Readers, enter today to win tickets to two amazing dance shows, or the prestigious Australian Dance Awards!

Win a DOUBLE PASS to Ballet Revolucion
Melbourne or Brisbane
Click here to hear about Cuba’s Ballet Revolucion and the company’s Australian tour.

Win a DOUBLE PASS to Side To One in Adelaide.
Click here to find out more about this new contemporary dance work presented at the Adelaide Festival Centre.

Win a DOUBLE PASS to the 2011 Australian Dance Awards in Brisbane
Click here to find out more about the dance industry’s night of nights!

To Enter
Email Dance Informa at info@danceinforma.com  with:
Your Name, Date of Birth, Full Address, Phone Number and ‘Why you love Dance Informa’.

Good luck!

Don't miss The Australian Dance Awards this weekend! Celebrating Australia's thriving dance industry the Awards ceremony will include performances by Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA), Dancenorth, Expressions Dance Company, Sue Peacock with Stefan Karlsson, Sydney Dance Company and Queensland Ballet. The Awards are held this Sunday July 24, at The Playhouse, QPAC. For tickets visit qpac.com.au.

Raw Dance Full Time Professional Program focuses on developing the necessary skills within all students before they enter the professional dance industry. It also provides an opportunity for those already working in the industry to upgrade their skills and train further to increase their likelihood of employment. The first round of auditions starts Saturday 24 July!

The Arts Centre has scored an exclusive Australian season of contemporary dance featuring the legendary Nederlands Dans Theater I. After a 14 year absence, the doyennes of contemporary dance will showcase their distinctive style at the Arts Centre’s State Theatre with five performances this week from 13 – 17 July.

Paramount’s much anticipated Footloose remake will be in cinemas this October! The 2011 version will star Kenny Wormald from Center Stage: Turn It Up as rug-cutting bad boy Ren - the role made famous by Kevin Bacon in the 1984 original. The basic story looks the same, although the dancing looks hotter, complete with a new version of the famous, high-flying warehouse dance scene. Professional dancer Wormald is sure to show up Bacon’s 80’s moves, although you can’t diss a cult classic.

The final nominees for this year’s Australian Dance Awards have been announced. Sydney Dance Company, Australian Dance Theatre, Expressions Dance Company and Bangarra Dance Theatre stand shoulder to shoulder with multiple nominees. Presented by Ausdance in association with Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), the dance industry’s premier national award event will be held in Queensland for the first time in its 14 year history in QPAC’s Playhouse on Sunday 24 July 2011. Dance Informa is the proud major media sponsor for the 2011 Australian Dance Awards.

Congratulations to Georgia McCarthy, Holly Sheils and Jesse Kean of The McDonald College for their recent successes at the Northern Beaches Eisteddfod, which was held on Sunday 5 June. Georgia, of Year 9 at The McDonald College, took out the Vocal Championship of the Eisteddfod. "The College community wish her every success in the upcoming Gala Concert where championship winners of other genres also perform”, said Mr Michael McGregor, Head of Music at The McDonald College. Not to be outdone by Georgia, Holly Sheils and Jesse Kean, both Year 11 students of the College, will also perform at the Gala Concert which takes place on June 17 at Brookvale. Holly and Jesse’s lyrical duo “Bang, Bang” earned them a spot at the Gala final after they were awarded 1st place at the Eisteddfod.

ADT have just announced that renowned contemporary dancer Kristina Chan (who danced in Birdbrain, HELD and Age of Unbeauty with ADT) will teach at this July’s Winter Intensive. Chan will join esteemed faculty Gabrielle Nankivell and Chris Aubrey. The ADT Winter Intensive allows dancers to experience the creative and physical challenge of being a full time contemporary dancer at Australian Dance Theatre, one of the country’s leading contemporary forces. 

Exploring the concept of soul mates and human connection, Side to One follows two individuals destined to connect. Attracted like magnets they are never static but constantly evolving. Last seen at the Space Theatre in Tanja Liedtke’s construct in 2009 the stunning Lisa Griffiths will be back to perform her own work. Craig Bary is known to dance audiences from his work with Australian Dance Theatre and Leigh Warren & Dancers. Side to One premieres in Adelaide at the Space Theatre, July 27-30.

A week’s intensive studio-based program for emerging professional choreographers and dancers with Artistic Director, Phillip Adams and renowned choreographer Rebecca Hilton. A creative forum to explore choreographic and improvisational practices as a basis towards new work development.  4 – 8 July. Expressions of Interest Due by Friday 17th June.