Australian contemporary dance

Contemporary dance in Australia is represented by a diverse range of dance companies performing a broad range of contemporary and modern dance styles.

Contemporary Dance most often, though not always, develops from an idea or concept, into a live, at least partly movement based, performance/happening. Contemporary Dance is not to be confused with the entertainment industry, though often the best art of any medium is deeply engaging, Contemporary Dance is first and foremost a process of exploration using (primarily) the body to shape the two elements inalienable from dance; Space & Time.

History

Through funding cuts (from the Federal Government level down) and social change, the numbers of Contemporary Dance Companies in Australia has fallen dramatically in recent years. There are now only 5 companies in Australia that "may" offer a full year contract. All other companies work on a project basis where by artists are requested for a set period of time, ranging from days to months, with no guarantee of further employment. All future opportunities resting on the employing company or independent artists' ability to source additional funds to further develop a work or to take the idea through to performance.

Often funding bodies are not the sole source of funding for a project and it is not rare for a dance work to be sold (to a festival or performance venue) before it is anywhere near finished simply to raise the expenses required to bring it to fruition.

Dance Film

Also known as; Dance on Screen, Dance on Film, Screen Dance, Dance for Film it can be shown is festivals like the ReelDance Festival, [ [http://www.reeldance.org.au/ ReelDance Festival] ] through installations at venues ranging night clubs to back alley's to art galleries, shown as part of a live performance, or sometimes purchased for home viewing.

On television

So You Think You Can Dance Australia has drawn [http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/opinion/australia-you-cant-dance-like-that/2008/03/02/1204402265772.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1) criticism] for poorly representing dance as an art form. [ [http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/opinion/australia-you-cant-dance-like-that/2008/03/02/1204402265772.html Valerie Lawson, (3 March 2008), "Australia, you can't dance like that", "Brisbane Times"] ]

ABC1 broadcasts contemporary dance as part of its Sunday Arts programming.

Companies

A list of Australian contemporary dance companies:

* [http://www.dancenorth.com DanceNorth] or wiki-Dancenorth
* [http://www.chunkymove.com Chunky Move] or wiki-Chunky Move
* [http://www.sydneydancecompany.com Sydney Dance Company] or wiki-Sydney Dance Company
* [http://www.bangarra.com.au Bangarra Dance Theatre] or wiki-Bangarra Dance Theatre
* [http://www.lucyguerin.com Lucy Guerin Inc]
* [http://davidandjacob.com/ David and Jacob make art]
* [http://www.expressions.org.au/ Expressions]
* [http://www.adt.org.au Australian Dance Theatre]
* [http://www.balletlab.com Ballet Lab]
* [http://www.companyinspace.com Company In Space]
* [http://www.phunktional.com Phunktional]
* [http://www.forcemajeure.com.au Force Majeure]
* [http://www.twirlingsheilas.com/info.php?section=news Twirling Sheilas]
* [http://www.tasdance.com.au TasDance]
* [http://www.tracksdance.com.au Tracks]
* [http://www.natcursio.com/ Nat Cursio]
* [http://jolloyd.alphalink.com.au/ Jo Loyd]

References

External links

* [http://www.contactquarterly.com/ Contact Quarterly]
* [http://www.realtimearts.net/ Real Time Arts Magazine]
* [http://www.writingsondance.com Writings on Dance]
* [http://www.criticalpath.org.au/ Critical Path]
* [http://www.dancehouse.com.au/ Dancehouse]
* [http://www.stompin.net/ Stompin Youth Dance Company]