TEACHER INFORMATION

CONVERGEConverge - Bold new contemporary dance works from three of Australasia’s hottest young choreographers

Expressions Dance Company (EDC) partners with The Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU) to present Converge, a dynamic choreographic platform for national and international dance artists and featuring the works of emerging composers and musicians from QCGU.

Converge continues EDC’s long tradition of original collaborations between live musicians,

composers and dancers and features provocative new choreographic works from Beijing Dance LDTX’s Xu Yiming, EDC ensemble member and multi award nominee Richard Causer and acclaimed contemporary dance maker Stephanie Lake, recipient of a 2017 Australia Council Fellowship.

Bold and inspiring, Converge showcases the latest in daring contemporary dance and incredible new musical compositions. Don’t miss this limited season!

DATES & TIMES

Saturday 10 March - 7:30pmTuesday  13 March - 6:30pm*Wednesday 14 March - 11:30am*Thursday 15 March - 7:30pmFriday 16 March - 7:30pmSaturday 17 March - 7:30pm

*Includes free post-show Q&A sessionDuration: approx. 75 min + 20 min interval

LOCATION & TICKETS

Queensland Conservatorium Theatre140 Grey Street, South Bank

School Groups 10+ : $25.00 each (1 teacher ticket free per 10 students)

Book via QPAC Group Sales 07 3840 7466 or groups@qpac.com.au

TEACHERS’ NOTES

Brief teachers’ notes will be available online 2 - 3 weeks prior to the performance, with full performance footage available following the season. Teachers who book will be alerted via email when the resources are available.

CURRICULUM LINKS & SUITABILITY

Dance / Music Years 7 - 12

Contemporary choreography and choreographic development, performance and appreciation Students will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding and appreciation of the contemporary dance genre and observe world-class professional dancers.  Dance and Music: Cross disciplinary collaborationMusic is one of the key (aural) non-movement components that dancemakers use to create and add layers of meaning to their performance. Professional choreographers and dancers often work with original composers and live musicians. Through our detailed teachers’ notes, your students can gain a more intimate understanding of the collaborative process of creating dance and music concurrently, and about the on-stage relationship between dancer and musician. Your students will be inspired to open their minds to collaborations they can spark with other students in their creative school community.

Cultural perspectives (Asia/Australia)This production features choreography by Australian choreographers and a Chinese Choreographer. Students can identify, compare and contrast Asian and Australian approaches to choreography.

10 - 17 MARCH

Choreographers Richard Causer, Stephanie Lake (Australia) and Xu Yiming (China)

Expressions Dance Company and the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University presents

Photo by Dylan Evans featuring Richard Causer and Jake McLarnon

Expressions Dance Company, City Contemporary Dance Company (Hong Kong) and Queensland Performing Arts Centre present

Discover the best in international contemporary dance.

Expressions Dance Company (EDC) and Hong Kong’s City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) unite to present the Australian premiere of 4Seasons, a compelling triple bill showcasing stunning new contemporary dance works.

These fresh new works created by Natalie Weir (Artistic Director, EDC), Dominic Wong (Assistant Artistic Director, CCDC) and Helpmann Award winning choreographer Kristina Chan bring together 20 dancers from the EDC and CCDC ensembles for a truly international event showcasing world-class artistry and exhilarating physicality.

4Seasons is presented as part of EDC’s five-year Chinese Australian Dance Exchange Project - a major collaboration involving three high profile Chinese dance companies.  This groundbreaking initiative provides vital opportunities for dancers and choreographers to deepen their practice on a cultural level while developing inspiring new contemporary dance works in Australia and China. 

Featuring moments from celebrated minimalist composer Max Richter (Woolf Works, The Royal Ballet) melded with Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, this uplifting triple bill brings sublime choreography, dance, music and lighting to the QPAC Playhouse stage.

DATES & TIMES

Thursday 14 June - 7:30pmFriday 15 June - 7:30pm*Saturday 16 June - 7:30pmWednesday 20 June - 11:30am*Thursday 21 June - 7:30pmFriday 22 June - 7:30pm

*Includes free post-show Q&A session

Duration: approx. 75 min + 20 min interval

LOCATION & TICKETS

Playhouse, QPAC School Groups 15+: $25.00 each

(1 teacher ticket free per 15 students,additional adults $27each)

Book via QPAC Group Sales 07 3840 7466 or groups@qpac.com.au

TEACHERS’ NOTES

Brief teachers’ notes will be available online 2 - 3 weeks prior to the performance, with full performance footage available following the season. Teachers who book will be alerted via email when the resources are available.

CURRICULUM LINKS & SUITABILITY

Dance Years 7 - 12

Contemporary choreography and choreographic development, performance and appreciation Students will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding and appreciation of the contemporary dance genre and observe world-class professional dancers.  Interpretations of the seasonsEach choreographer has interpreted the four seasons differently. Kristina Chan addresses how the seasons are being impacted by climate change, while Dominic Wong’s work explores the seasons within a geographical context, comparing Hong Kong and Australia.  Finally, through a series of duets, Natalie Weir’s piece draws parallels between Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and our stages of life, from youth to old age.  

Cultural perspectives (Asia/Australia)This production features works by Australian and Chinese choreographers and dancers. Students can identify, compare and contrast the Asian and Australian approaches to the choreography.

14- 22 JUNE

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THEMED

WORKSHOPS AVAILABLE

Choreographers Natalie Weir, Kristina Chan (Australia) and Dominic Wong (Hong Kong)

Photo by Dylan Evans featuring Alana Sargent

BESPOKEIn 2018, Queensland Ballet collaborates with artists from Expressions Dance Company, independent contemporary dance maker, Gabrielle Nankivell and rising talent from QB’s own ranks, Jack Lister.

Bespoke challenges assumptions about what dance is, what dancers can do, and how dance is experienced.

It is a place where artists inspire each other to create groundbreaking, thought-provoking and relevant new works.

Bespoke will begin outside the theatre with visual artists from film, photography and sculpture creating a sensory dance experience.

BOOKING INFORMATION

9 - 17 NovemberPowerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhousewww.queenslandballet.com.au

Tickets on sale Monday 22 JanuaryAll tickets $60School Groups - $30 per student

Book via QPAC Group Sales 07 3840 7466 or groups@qpac.com.au

Friday 9 November - 7:30pmSaturday 10 November - 1:30pm & 7.30pmTuesday 13 November - 6:30pmWednesday 14 November - 6:30pmThursday 15 November - 1:30pmFriday 16 November - 7:30pmSaturday 17 November - 1:30pm & 7.30pm

Brisbane Contemporary Dance Intensive (BCDI) is Queensland’s most highly regarded short training course for contemporary dance.

BCDI allows participants the opportunity to learn with EDC’s award-winning dancers, alongside a handpicked selection of industry renowned guest artists. Throughout the program, students will refine their technique, develop their performance skills through exploring EDC repertoire and deepen their ability to create unique and engaging dance.

Additionally, the teaching team will offer their personal insights through sessions discussing physical fitness, nutrition, audition processes, career pathways and more.

The BCDI program is offered across three levels:

• AWAKEN Introductory contemporary dance program (ages 12+)

• EXPAND Foundational contemporary dance and pre-tertiary program (ages 13+)

• FLOURISH Pre-professional and professional program (ages 17+) Ideal for dance teachers!

Spaces are limited.

BRISBANE CONTEMPORARYDANCE INTENSIVE

TRAINING FOR EMERGING &

PROFESSIONAL DANCERS

SUMMER 2018 PROGRAM

Week 1: 8 - 12 JanuaryWeek 2: 15 - 19 JanuaryLocation: EDC Studio, Level 4, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts (Awaken) and QUT Dance Studios, Kelvin Grove (Expand and Flourish)

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

WINTER 2018 PROGRAM

One week only: TBA June/July 2018Location: EDC Studio, Level 4, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts (Awaken) and QUT Dance Studios, Kelvin Grove (Expand and Flourish)

APPLICATIONS OPEN APRIL 2018

GUEST PERFORMANCEQueensland Ballet presents

Photo by Justin Ridler featuring Queensland Ballet Soloist Vito Bernasconi and Company Artist Georgia Swan.

Choreographers Gabrielle Nankivell, Jack Lister Choreographer/Film Artist Cass Mortimer Eipper

Photo by FenLan Chuang

Offered twice a year, EDC’s FOCUS PD workshops feature a variety of contemporary dance techniques, repertoire and discussion to expand and develop your skills for the classroom.

You’ll participate in workshops that align with assessment practises of the QCAA syllabus focusing on choreography and choreographic development, technique, repertoire (performance assessment) and developing an understanding of how Natalie Weir creates her work (appreciation). You’ll also work alongside the EDC ensemble to learn repertoire from EDC works.

FOCUS 1.0: THE DANCING BODY AND THE MOVING IMAGE - MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS WORKSHOP

When: 24 April 2017, 9am-3pmWhere: EDC Studio, Level 4, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary ArtsCost: $135 per person

Engage with multimedia in a creative workshop led by EDC that will help you to navigate the dance film/ technology genre. Discover, play and refine your skills in this new and increasingly relevant area of exploration in education.

Using a variety of approaches to screen-dance, we will explore some of the best approaches, simple technologies and techniques for incorporating dance and film in your classroom and stimulate ideas for generating creative approaches to learning. We will move from the studio to the site-specific areas of Fortitude Valley as each of us capture the dancing body as moving images and help you to develop classroom tasks and activities that explore this rich medium.

FOCUS 2.0

Date: TBA, 9am - 3pmLocation: EDC Studio, Level 4, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, BrisbaneCost: $135 per person

FOCUS: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR DANCE TEACHERS

WORKSHOPS

RESOURCES Footage of EDC’s acclaimed productions are available for purchase for use in your classroom.

We also freely provide teachers’ notes on our website, to greater assist students to interpret the the works and gain a better understanding of the creative process. The booklet provides valuable behind-the-scenes information, example practice questions and classroom exercises.

EDC offers contemporary dance workshops throughout the year, by request, at your school. Your students will take part in a 60 or 90 minute workshop, in a style of your choice, run by highly experienced, professional contemporary dancers.

Workshops can cater to a range of skill levels and can be adapted to align with the current assessment or curriculum tasks of your class. Workshops include:

• Contemporary Technique - Students will examine alignment, floor work, release and strength

• Contemporary Repertoire - Students are taught a short piece of choreography from EDC’s established repertoire, or repertoire currently in development

• Choreography - Students are taught choreographic methods and skills for creating their own contemporary dance works

• Contact/Duo - Students are introduced to contact improvisation and working in pairs

EDC also offers in-studio workshops, taking place at its professional dance studio at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts. This will give students the opportunity to experience professional company life while gaining a range of new skills and techniques.

Photo by Chris Herzfeld - Natalie Weir’s When Time Stops, QPAC 2016

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EXPRESSIONSDANCECOMPANY.ORG.AU

YOUR 2018 CALENDART

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Brisbane Contemporary Dance Intensive Converge

Bespoke

4Seasons

FOCUS Professional Development

MAY

MARCH

JULY AUGUST

Expressions Dance Company acknowledges the assistance of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

Photo by Dylan Evans featuring Elise May

expressionsdancecompany.org.au

Level 3, 420 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley 4006 | PO Box 869, Fortitude Valley 4006

07 3257 42222 | admin@expressionsdancecompany.org.au

Back and front cover photos by Dylan Evans featuring Jake McLarnon, Elise May, Richard Causer and Alana Sargent