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WDA Global Summit 2008

Background

World Dance Alliance (WDA) is a not-for-profit global service organisation which serves as a primary voice for dance and dancers throughout the world, and encourages the exchange of ideas and the awareness of dance in all its forms through a range of workshops, performance events, conferences, publications, research and allied activities which operate through three regional clusters (Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas). WDA concerns are initiated and realised through five networks:

1. Research and Documentation (conferences, publications, research);
2. Creation and Presentation (performances, choreographic and skills development);
3. Education and Training (resource sharing, workshops, in-service for teachers);
4. Management and Promotion (support for administrators, managers, promoters);
5. Welfare and Status (advocacy and strategies for raising status of dance practitioner and transitional pathways).

World Dance Alliance was formed in 1990 in the Asia-Pacific region and has grown into an active, highly respected international network, drawing on members from all facets of the dance industry, with members working in a voluntary capacity to advocate for the significance of dance, and to foster its development and relevance in a 21st century global environment. Each region undertakes an annual gathering and various projects throughout the year.

The Global Summit is a biennial international activity of the World Dance Alliance that brings together dance specialists and communities from each of the WDA regional chapters (including about 30 country chapters). These gatherings focus, analyse and reflect on contemporary dance issues and the development of dance practice and research in a global context.

The 2008 WDA Global Summit has a Pacific focus, hence its presence in Australia. It is being presented by WDA Asia-Pacific and hosted by Ausdance Queensland. Ausdance is an extremely active member of WDA-AP with the Secretary, Vice-President (Pacific) and the Chair of the Creation and Presentation Network all being Australian. The bi-annual newsletter, Asia-Pacific Channels, is produced by Ausdance National on behalf of the region. The closely aligned visions of WDA and Ausdance offer a supportive synergy in realising the 2008 Global Summit.