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Ausdance Victoria invites dancers, choreographers, teachers, students and history buffs to the Australian Dance Awards Industry Symposium: a new innovation introduced to entertain, educate and create discussion about the history of ballet and modern dance in Victoria.

Keynote speakers will include Lee Christofis, Curator of Dance at the National Library of Australia; Dianne Parrington, Former principal with Ballet Victoria, and course coordinator of dance teaching at Box Hill TAFE; choreographer, dancer & director, Shelley Lasica;, journalist and academic, Jordan Beth Vincent and choreographer, Beth Shelton. Colin Peasley OAM, the longest serving member of The Australian Ballet, will act as the Master of Ceremonies.
 
In Australian dance history, many of the most significant artists, companies and movements arose in Melbourne. The symposium, focusing on the 1930s to the 1980’s, will look at the personalities and companies, and their swathes of influence, and discuss how our history continues to impact on dance in Melbourne today.
 
Presentations based on interviews especially conducted by the keynote speakers will be complemented by photographs and films. Sourced from archives and individual collections, many of these materials have never been presented together before.  They will include programs and images from the Borovansky Ballet, the Australian Dance Theatre and Ballet Victoria.
 
“It’s been amazing to speak to the people that have contributed to the development of dance in Melbourne over the years. It really helps us to paint a picture about what it was like to be a dancer in any given decade,” said co-presenter, Jordan Beth Vincent.
 
People attending the Symposium are encouraged to bring their own photographs and programs
along – creating a lively and participatory atmosphere and the opportunity to reveal the personal stories behind them.
 
The Symposium will be held in association with the Australian Dance Awards for this and the next two years, with the broad themes ‘local’, ‘national’ and ‘international’.
 
The Australian Dance Awards Industry Program is supported by Arts Victoria and the Arts Centre.
Symposium spaces are limited so registration is essential


Ausdance Victoria presents
Australian Dance Awards Industry Symposium
How Melbourne Learned to Dance
the history of ballet and modern dance in Victoria

The Arts Centre, Black Box
Saturday 14 June 10.00am till 4.00pm
For further information or to register visit www.australiandanceawards.net.au/industryprogram.html