ANNUAL REPORT 2014Australian Dance Council – Ausdance Inc. Published by Ausdance National PO Box 45, Braddon ACT 2612 ABN: 95 977 271 106 Telephone: (02) 6248 8992 Website: ausdance.org.au Annual reports: ausdance.org.au/about-us © Australian Dance Council—Ausdance Inc. Ausdance National 2014 ISSN 1328-6579. Report year ends 31 December 2014. Coordinated and written by Rachael Jennings, communications and publications manager, Ausdance National Ausdance National Annual Report 2014 The Australian Dance Council—Ausdance National is Australia's peak body for dance: educating, inspiring and supporting the dance community in reaching its potential as a dynamic force within local, national and international communities. As part of a network of Ausdance organisations working across Australia, we design and deliver accessible and sustainable services and integrated programs to support Australian dance professionals. Overview Keith Bain Choreographic Travel Ausdance National has multiple roles in the Fellowship dance community, and we continue to be a Established following a bequest by Keith Bain leading force for change in areas of sustainability, OAM, founding member of Ausdance, the fellowship dance education and political advocacy. Our provides financial assistance for an emerging program across 2014 was delivered within choreographer to travel internationally with the the framework of our organisation’s three sole purpose of developing and extending their major goals for the 2012–14 triennium: choreographic practice. The first fellowship of 1. Industry Development: To support and sustain $5,000 was awarded at the Australian Dance professional dance practice in Australia Awards to Gabrielle Nankivell, who will use the fellowship to further investigate how we use dance 2. Information Services: Be a recognised and movement to engage with the world around us. advocate in promoting dialogue and the value and purpose of dance The Australian Youth Dance Festival 3. Ensure the sustainability and The eighth Australian Youth Dance Festival took growth of Ausdance National place in Renmark, SA. Taking place in a supportive, This was the third year of the triennium, and a non-competitive environment that encourages range of exciting events were delivered through our learning, the AYDF allows young people to engage work with network and organisational partners. in creative exchange with professional dancers, choreographers, and their peers. The event attracted 2014 Australian Dance Awards around 100 participants, ten percent who identified as having a disability. The young people worked with November in Sydney: 610 nominations, Artistic Director Adam Wheeler, a Stompin and VCA approximately 1000 audience, 12 awards presented alumni and director of YellowWheel and a team of Hosted by Ausdance NSW at the Sydney Opera tutors including well-known Australian performers House, the Australian Dance Awards once and choreographers Katrina Lazaroff, Larissa again provided a gala opportunity to celebrate McGowan, Sani Townsend, Kiale Nadine-Williams and recognise the professional dance sector. and Frankie Snowdon. The Festival concluded with Ten awards were presented plus a Lifetime a full performance on the banks of the Murray river Achievement for Leigh Warren and the induction with a local audience. of Gailene Stock AM CBE to the Hall of Frame. www.ausdance.org.au The Ausdance National website—a key point for information, communication and profiles of Australian dance, continued to grow. In 2014 there were 100,617 unique visitors to the site, and 274 new items were posted. p.2 Ausdance National Annual Report 2014 Goal 1 Industry development: 1.1 Increase access to career support and sustain professional development opportunities dance practice in Australia To recognise the diverse nature of career development within the dance profession, we Dance insurance provide multiple types and sources of opportunities, We know professional dance practitioners and information and support for artists' careers. those who teach dance or perform to a public We offer two choreographic development audience can not be without insurance. And fellowships in alternating years; both provide our industry-specific insurance products are financial and publicity support to one artist annually. an essential contribution to the sustainability of Our publishing program provides academic peer- Australian dance practitioners. We ensure our reviewed publishing opportunities for artists and products evolve to meet artistic innovation and the researchers. And our national and international changing insurance and economic environment. partnerships provide access to further professional Because the dance industry has unique insurance development, resources and networking. needs—high-risk activities, expensive equipment The Ausdance website and social media are our key and studios, and below average incomes that rely communication and publishing tools where we share on a healthy body—we continue to partner with Aon, fellowships, training, networking events, research, who has negotiated to get the best combination fact sheets and publicity support for artists' work. of price and cover, while also offering features In 2014 we published or supported 266 career that meet the specialist requirements of dance development articles on the website and 654 via artists and teachers. They work with us to ensure social media. all potential risks have been identified and catered for. They also provide case studies, articles and Keith Bain Choreographic Travel Fellowship safety suggestions to help keep dance businesses In 2014 the inaugural Keith Bain Choreographic protected. At the end of 2014, Aon lowered their Travel Fellowship was offered to an emerging public liability insurance premiums by 33%— choreographer to travel internationally with the providing a significant saving on a high-quality sole purpose of developing and extending their product. choreographic practice. Established following a The Ausdance insurance scheme provides cover for bequest by Keith Bain OAM, founding member all types of performance and dance-related activities of Ausdance, the fellowship provides financial including assistance of $5,000. The fellowhip was awarded at the Australian Dance Awards to Gabrielle Nankivell, x Public Liability, which also includes a free one- who will use the fellowship to further investigate off upgrade for up to $20m public liability for how we use dance and movement to engage with seven days to cover performances and concerts, the world around us. The Fellowship will be offered so organisations and individuals don’t pay for again in 2016. cover that is unnecessary throughout the year. x Professional Indemnity World Dance Alliance-Asia Pacific (WDA-AP) x Business Insurance With support from our partner WDA-AP, Sydney x Personal Accident Insurance—supports dancers independent dancer Angela Goh was selected to in cases of accident or injury (e.g. broken bones, participate in a workshop/festival in Hanen, China. tissue damage) on or off-stage. Unfortunately, she was unable to attend. Aon's Sam Small social Gabrielle Nankivell media campaign ran in the receiving her lead up to the Australian Keith Bain Dance Awards and focused Choreographic on organising how event Fellowship. organisers reduce the risk Photo: Pia Moore of a claim. <aon.com.au/ danceeventchecklist> p.3 Ausdance National Annual Report 2014 Publications Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) Brolga—an Australian journal about dance— APAM is Australia’s leading, internationally focussed provides publishing opportunities for artists and industry event for contemporary performing artists academics. Edited in 2014 by Associate Professor and companies looking for opportunities to tour their Maggi Phillips from the Western Australian Academy latest productions or find partners for new work in of Performing Arts, Brolga #39 provided ten writers development. However, the cost of hiring a booth, with publishing opportunities. They are: and the competitive EOI process to access the limited number of booths available, means it is often x Patrice O’Brien (lecturer, University of Auckland) not possible for independent artists and smaller x Paige Gordon (choreographer) companies to access this opportunity. x Avril Huddy (dance lecturer, Queensland University of Technology) To support Australian dance artists and companies x Kym Stevens (lecturer in dance education, Queensland University of Technology) to profile their work at the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM), Ausdance Qld applied to rent x Sela Kiek-Callan (choreographer & dance teacher) a display booth and we were able to help staff the x Vahri MacKenzie (lecturer, Edith Cowan booth and promote the work of Australian dance University) companies and artists including those not able to x Barbara Snook (dance studies teaching fellow, attend APAM. University of Auckland) We hosted Talking dance: meet the makers—a x Ralph Buck (head of dance studies, University of Auckland) networking event for the dance makers participating x Jo Pickup (Program & Communications Manager in APAM. We produced and shared marketing at STRUT) material and projected a showcase of images from x Evan Jones (lecturer in ballet, Queensland the latest work of Australian dance companies. University of Technology). Australian Dance Awards 1.2 Develop new audiences for The annual Australian Dance Awards continue to be contemporary dance a major audience development activity with its public nominations, glamorous