Be part of Darwin’s biggest dance extravaganza! Register your dance group or volunteer now.

Ausdance NT, with support from the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Darwin City Council, will present the MoveMeNT Dance Expo again on the 11 March 2012.

A unique celebration of dance, diversity and magic of movement!

The MoveMeNT Dance Expo provides dancers of all styles and backgrounds with a wonderful opportunity to promote their activities and engage with the Darwin public through: information stalls, performances and workshops. Past MoveMeNT Dance Expo events presented over 30 different dance styles and groups, drawing crowds of over 2,000 people!

Registrations are now open!

You can now register your group or business/ organisation for a performance, workshop or information stall. Download the registration form here and email or post it back to Ausdance NT:

Click here – Registration form Expo 2012

Registrations are due:  Friday, 3 February 2012

Please be aware that current membership with Ausdance NT is required for participation. For more information on Ausdance NT membership click here: http://ausdancent.org.au/members/

 *** Volunteers needed!***

Ausdance NT is calling for volunteers to be part of the Darwin MoveMeNT Dance Expo 2012. Volunteers will work in different capacities as part of the MoveMeNT Dance Expo event team will work with Ausdance NT to ensure the smooth delivery of Darwin’s biggest dance event. Volunteers are needed for the following roles:

• Marketing and communications assistant
• Administration assistant
• Expo Support team
• Production team

Marketing and communications assistant
Dates: 30 Jan – 18 March, approx 3-5 hours per week
Due date for expressions of interest: 27 January 2012
Description: The marketing and communications assistant will assist with activities such as: maintenance of MoveMeNT Dance Expo website page & facebook page; collection and compilation of promotional information and materials; other promotional activities; liase with marketing partners and suppliers.

Administration Assistant
Dates: 30 Jan – 18 March, approx 3-5 hours per week
Due date for expressions of interest: 27 January 2012
Description: The administration assistant will support the Project Officer in the co-ordination of the MoveMeNT Dance Expo. This role involves: compilation of registration materials; processing and recording registrations; corresponding with dance groups; general administration support to Project Officer.

Expo support team
Dates:
Event Brief Meeting, 26 Feb, 2 hours (TBC)
Event, 11 March 2011 9am-5pm
(The day will be divided into two shifts 9am-1pm and 1pm-5pm) & so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the day)
Due date for expressions of interest: 12 February 2012
Description: The expo support team will be vital in the smooth running of the MoveMeNT Dance Expo on the day. As a key point of contact, those in this role are also responsible for creating a positive atmosphere in dealing with those who participate and attend the event. Duties will include: Front door welcome and donations; dance group sign-ins and direction; outdoor BBQ service; workshop registrations; assisting and answering questions from public attendees; handing out surveys; other duties.
*Volunteers will be rotated to perform different duties over a four hour shift.

Production Support Team
Dates:
26 Feb, 2 hours, Event Brief Meeting, (TBC)
10 March – Set Up (TBC)
11 March – EVENT 8am-6pm (part-day and whole day roles available)
Due date for expressions of interest: 12 February 2012
Description: Production support team will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of performances and presentations throughout the day. Volunteers are required for bump in and bump out; production assistance including staging and technical support, other related duties as required.

* Volunteers assisting with staging and technical production support will be required for the entire day of the event.
** Those not available for the entire day may volunteer for bump in and/or bump out roles only.
________________________________________

How to be part of the MoveMeNT Dance Expo team: You can register your interest by the expression of interest due dates by emailing nt@ausdance.org.au with the following information:

• Your name and contact details
• The area/role you wish to volunteer for
• Your availability
• A brief paragraph about you and any relevant skills or experience

All volunteers assisting on the day of the event will be required to have a Working with Children  – Ochre Card, complete the Working with Children Clearance Screening Assessment via SAFE NT or provide evidence of exemption.

For more information on the MoveMeNT Dance Expo please contact the Project Officer at nt@ausdance.org.au or telephone (08) 8981 7002.

Download Volunteer information –  PDF version here:

Expo volunteer role notice

Temporary Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 10-2pm, Fridays 1-4:30pm

‘Your Story, Your Magic… ONE MORE TIME’

Back by popular demand, the RIX KIX Dance Company will be performing just the highlights for you, don’t miss out this time!

Wander down the winding yellow brick road then take a sharp turn down the wacky white rabbit hole for an enchanted evening filled with dance, drama and music. Be entertained by Darwin’s freshest local emerging Dance Company as they choreograph, perform and revamp the classic Walt Disney tales under the tutelage of Artistic Director Kristy Rickert. This innovative production is not to be missed by audiences of all ages – especially the young at heart.

Where: Browns Mart Theatre
When: Thursday 15th at 7:45pm

Tickets sold at the door:

Adults $35, Students $30, Children $20

At Darwin High School (DHS) Dance is a valued part of student education and our mantra for educational dance programs offered at DHS is: Inspire, Inquire and Acquire. Driven by the needs of senior dance students the DHS Dance Dept designs programs that: confirm the vibrant presence of dance actively shaping creative options for younger generations of Darwin artsists; extend students possibilities beyond the classroom and stage; provide unparalleled learning and performance opportunities for Darwin based dance students, artists and choreographers.

WAAPA is known as Australia’s leading Performing Arts University and although many emerging dance artists set their goal on attending WAAPA the reality is that entry into the courses offferd is highly competetive on a National and International level. BUT in 2011 four local Darwin High School dancers have been offered places (Danial Ireland, Melissa Tan, Cameron Goodman and Nicole Kershaw) and a fifth shortlisted (Stevie Kirke-Groves). This is an exceptional outcome for the students whose dedication and passion for this complex and disciplined artform has given them an edge over dance students from acrosss the nation. Not since 1998 has Darwin had more than one or two students accepted into WAAPA in any one year!

The auditions for WAAPA took place all over Australia and in 2011 they finally returned to Darwin. Twelve students auditioned on 29th October and the outcome has put smiles on the faces of dance students, family, friends and staff at Darwin High School. Plus several other dance students are also actively auditioning for a range of dance based courses at Deakin, Ministry of Dance and South Australia, I have a feeling that they will also be successful!

For each of these young Darwin dancers their senior high school years and their dance within the broader community has definitely created stepping stones for their future goals but this confirmation of acceptance into WAAPA has now actually made their future choices a reality. The exceptional skills of all of the graduating Darwin High School dancers should not be over looked and their success is testimony to the vibrant presence of dance within schools and how it is actively shaping creative options for younger generations of Darwin artists.

“Your Story, Your Magic…”

Wander down the winding yellow brick road then take a sharp turn down the wacky white rabbit hole for an enchanted evening filled with dance, drama and music.

When: 4th December 2011

Time: 7.00pm

Where: Darwin Entertainment Centre’s Studio Theatre

Tickets can be booked through Darwin Entertainment Centre’s Box Office OR online at www.darwinentertainment.com.au or by phone (08) 8980 3333

Have you ever wanted to learn Tango?

Two of Australia’s best dancers and internationally recognised teachers are coming to Darwin in August.

They are offering a course of workshops including FREE introduction to Tango for complete beginners on August 20th 11am.

LEVEL: All are welcome
INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP: Saturday 20 August, 11am: FREE
OTHER WORKSHOPS: Please enquire.
LOCATION: Marrara Golf Club, Darwin
ENQUIRIES & BOOKINGS: call Carol Richards 0435 531 959 OR EMAIL northerntango@gmail.com

On a national level, Ausdance aims to make sure dance is included in policy development at federal level and to build and then keep connected to our Canberra networks about what the government is doing.

So Ausdance has an interest in the National Cultural Policy, the impact of the National Broadband Network, the imposition of the efficiency dividend on cultural institutions (including the Ozco), untagged funding increases for Australia Council boards, the inclusion of dance in the national curriculum (and its equal treatment with other artforms), etc.

We are often contacted for information about the field by government agencies, and receive other information through our membership of other organisations such as the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS), which gives us vital leads about where the government is headed. It’s sometimes difficult to share this information more widely, but you can be sure we never lose an opportunity to advocate for dance wherever appropriate.

If we need more information, we check with the Ozco or go directly to the field (although we understand this still isn’t happening often enough). A recent example is the paper we were asked to prepare by Senator Kate Lundy’s office within 24 hours about the funding situation for the small to medium dance sector - we hope this has now gone further up the line, and are following up. We had significant assistance  from Carin Mistry in developing this, as with other questions about policy.

Contact your local Ausdance office if you would like to see a copy of this paper. In the Northern Territory: directornt [at] ausdance.org.au

Ausdance National Director
on Meeting with Arts Minister: 

This is an Ausdance-led meeting, organised in response to our peer organisations in ArtsPeak who are having problems with access to the Arts Minister in a hung Parliament environment.

While many individuals (especially from the big companies) are able to speak with him occasionally, most peak arts organisations did not feel their members were well represented at these meetings.

We have therefore secured a time/date for the meeting at Parliament House on 17 August at 5pm and were delighted that 30 peak orgs were able to be in Canberra for the meeting, which will be facilitated by Sue Street. 

If you have particular issues you’d like raised, please send them to me by Friday 5 August, and we can share them and discuss.

Ausdance National Director
on Aon insurance:

As a service to the dance industry, Ausdance set up a partnership with Aon Risk Services more than 20 years ago to tailor products for the sector. Aon has since been a long-time supporter of the dance community, the Dance Awards and Ausdance.

As well as the usual risk management products, Aon has also set up a personal accident and illness policy for individual dancers who may be working outside companies.

We’re encouraging companies to look at these products in more detail for 2012 – there is a 1800 805 191 number you can call, but we’d encourage you to book a presentation that looks specifically at the needs of your company through our special contact, Emma Keegan.

Please contact <emma.keegan@aon.com.au> or phone 03 9211 3126 for more information.

Ausdance National Director
on Dance resources:

Companies will have major opportunities to profile their work with the national curriculum, including the provision of innovative audience engagement programs for schools, but most essentially with the provision of DVDs and teachers’ notes about current work that could be applied in primary and secondary years.

In the primary school there will probably be two organising strands common to all art forms: Making (choreographing, performing), and responding (appreciating, critical evaluation). These words will possibly change when reviewed by ACARA, but it may help to know about these strands when planning your curriculum materials.

We’re happy to provide advice as the curriculum is being written (I am on the ACARA advisory panel), so please contact us if you need assistance. We also produce an occasional email dance education bulletin, so contact us on national [at] ausdance.org.au if you’d like your name added to that distribution list.

Ausdance National Director
on Ausdance publications program:

Ausdance National has an extensive library of dance writing, journals, conference papers etc. and we have produced many of these in-house over the years.

We are now in the process of digitising the Ausdance publications list and will be gradually making them available on our new website from late 2011. The site will also have many new features to enable dialogue and debate.

In the meantime, if you are in Canberra and wish to use the library, give us a call. The Routledge book Shaping the Landscape – Celebrating Dance in Australia will be launched by WDA in Malaysia in September, and we are hoping to organise an Australian launch in October.

About Ausdance National:

Ausdance National is housed in Canberra, the national capital. Its role is to provide an overview of dance in Australia, and to implement Ausdance policies through partnerships and projects of research, publication and dissemination. It provides a focus for lobbying and advocacy at a national level, consultancy services and advice on a wide range of dance issues.

photo sourced from the NAISDA web site

Calling all Deadly Dancers:

FREE audition, including travel and accommodation, for dancers eligible for Abstudy

Auditions for NAISDA Courses are happening on 3 & 4 October 2011.

Auditions are for Indigenous dancers aged between 18 and 30 and are held on the Central Coast of NSW. But don’t let the distance stop you. If you are eligible for Abstudy, you can audition for free, and Abstudy will also cover all your travel and accommodation costs.

If you’re interested in a performing arts career – or know someone else who should be – check out what’s on offer at NAISDA. It’s where some of Australia’s deadliest began their careers… (NAISDA web site)

For more information, read about the auditions
and free call Karen McCann on 1800 117 116

There’s sand underfoot. There’s a rhythm on the breeze. And there’s room for you on the dance floor.

Crowd favourite Dancing in the Sand is back for the 2011 Darwin Festival.

Over 13 nights, different dance troupes showcase their styles. Then they step into the sand and teach you the moves. Learn everything from Congolese to Swing and from hoop-dancing to Irish jigs.

Each night is different and each night is FREE.

So come on down as often as you like. Bring your family. Join your friends. Kick off your shoes and kick up your heels (even if you have two left ones). And come do some dancing in the sand!

Ausdance NT is thrilled to announce that:

“Dancing in the Sand” is on again!

Register your interest to perform at Darwin Festival this year (11-28 August)! We are looking for dance groups to perform in the sand in Civic Park (Festival Park), right in the hub of Festival action, and invite the audience to come onto the ‘stage’ and dance together. It was a huge hit last year. Email directornt@ausdance.org.au ASAP

“Human V’s Machine”

You’ve seen Essington Dancers at Dancing in the Sand in 2009 and 2010.

You’ve seen them performing for the Ausdance NT Dance Stage at NIGHTCLIFF SEABREEZE FESTIVAL.

Lets call these ‘snippets’ shall we… Because… prepare to be entertained at the Essington School Dance Showcase.  Dance teacher, Lisa Svara has been working and creating tirelessly with not only a bunch of talented and energetic students, but also a team of our diverse and wonderfully creative choreographers up here in the Top End.  You will also be treated to guest performances by Gary Lang NT Dance Company and Rix Kix Arts. Matinee’s and Evening Show’s on June 15th & 16th.  Tickets available on 8985 0100 or from The Essington School Front Office.