Dance. Here. Now.
Concept. Program Design. Implementation.
A dance development initiative delivered in partnership with dance sector professionals aimed at creating more opportunities to experience dance and get more people dancing across the Sunshine Coast - with a focus on increasing participation, professional practice, programming, networks and spaces for dance through partnerships, collaboration and new approaches. This project was enabled through my role as Team Leader Creative Development at Sunshine Coast Council and funded by Arts Queensland through the Regional Arts Development Fund with the support of Ausdance QLD, Healthy Sunshine Coast, Horizon, LJProjects and a very engaged sterring group of Sunshine Coast based dance leaders including Courtney Scheu, Ruby Donohoe, Bronwyn Edinger, Chloe Keating, Kirsty Chalkley, Melissa Lanham, Mia Hollingworth and Michelle Bucci.
Performers rehearsing in the development of Michelle Bucci’s work Entangled Video Habitus
National Residency Program.
Dance Here Now facilitated a residency program for both QLD and nationally based artists for four years - inviting and hosting artists from across Australia to develop new work on the Sunshine Coast. Artists include:
Lisa Wilson (QLD), Soleil Harvey (QLD), Voiiid Collective (QLD), Courtney Scheu (QLD), Second Echo (TAS), Ruby Donohoe (QLD), Isabella Hood & Jag Popham (QLD), Mia Hollingworth (QLD), Orlando Mee (SA), Michelle Bucci (QLD), Lewis Major (SA) in partnership with PUNCTUM Inc and Amber McCartney (VIC) in partnership with OUTBOUND Festival of Live Art & Contemporary Dance, Libby Harward & Lucy Davis (QLD), LJProjects (QLD)
Joseph Lau, Project Auske in rehearsal for Elephant from Photo Habitus
oUTBOUND contemporary dance and live arts festival
OUTBOUND | Contemporary Dance x Live Art Festival brought together local, national, and international artists, showcasing contemporary dance and live art experiences, often only found in larger cities, The festival featured intimate performances, unique choreography, installations, live music, projection works, workshops, and more. OUTBOUND sought to create new connections between bodies, time, art forms, and ideas.
Co-founded and co-directed by Courtney Scheu and Ruby Donohoe, OUTBOUND was supported by Sunshine Coast Council through DANCE. HERE. NOW program and the Regional Arts Development Fund. The festival took place in 2023 at FrankX Studio in Warana.
Tami Dance Company Workshop Photo OUTBOUND
Dance SECTOR DEVELOPMENT.
Dance Here Now was delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast based dance leaders from performance makers, educators to presenters. The steering group guided, informed and promoted the program that delivered 27 residencies, 34 public events & workshops, 8 professional development intensives and involved 131 practising artists and engaged 2,300 participants and attendees. The Steering Group included;
Mia Hollingworth in development of Tenancy Photo Habitus
NEW WORK & PERFORMANCE.
Dance.Here.Now supported the development of new work and presentation of work on the Sunshine Coast. Highlights included Lung Water by Ruby Donohoe, Poetical Inhabitants by Melissa Lanham, Sand by Courtney Scheu and Labyrinth by Chloe Keating and Looks Like a Tourist by Danielle Constance.
Looks Like a Tourist by Danielle Constance, Photo Habitus