• WDA Proceedings

• Global Summit 08
• Background
• Conference themes

• Program
• Conference
• Dance Dialogues
• Choreolab
• Masterclasses

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• About WDA–AP

WDA Global Summit 2008

Summit program

1. Conference/Performative Dialogues (presentations and forums)
2. Dance Dialogues (a program of four facilitated conversations + the eigth Dame Peggy Van Praagh Memorial Address)
3. Physical Dialogues (International Choreolab & International Masterclasses)
4. Networking Dialogues (Global Assembly of WDA)

Download full Summit Program

Download the WDA Global Summit Program Brochure

Conference/Performative Dialogues

Conference/Performative Dialogues was a three-day event comprising a series of academic and performative presentations and forums exploring the Summit’s key issues and themes. Refereed by international panels of scholars and artists, this was a competitive process, and successful submissions will have the opportunity to submit full papers to be peer reviews for publication in the Conference Proceedings.

Physical Dialogues

These were explored through an International Choreolab and a program of masterclasses. and a program of masterclasses. These two strands created a significant opportunity for talented artists and future leaders to be exposed to the expertise and mentorship of key cultural figures.

International Masterclasses comprised leading artists and teachers conducting 2-hour studio workshops over four days (14 – 17 July) for local and visiting artists, teachers and students and workshops reflected the conference themes.

Dance Dialogues

Dance Dialogues assembled key international cultural thinkers and artists to engage in and stimulate debate about growing sustainable platforms for international arts business and creative collaborations. It featured a program of four facilitated conversations, with each dialogue focussing on one of the Summit themes and a provocateur to ensure lively debate.

As part of this Dance Dialogues series the Summit also presented the Dame Peggy Van Praagh Memorial Address as a dialogue between Professor Susan Street, Dean of Creative Industries at QUT and Ausdance National President, and David McAllister, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet. This special ‘dialogue’ was to be facilitated by Professor Shirley McKechnie, founder of Ausdance, the Green Mill Dance Festival and the inaugural speaker of the Dame Peggy Van Praagh address, however, family illness prevented her attending and her address was read by Assoc. Prof. Cheryl Stock. This event marked the 30th anniversary of Ausdance.

Networking Dialogues

This strand represented the biennial Global Assembly of WDA members from the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas. Visiting nation groups include India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Cambodia, Japan, Vietnam, New Zealand, UK, USA, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Canada and Malaysia. This meeting of executive boards, networks and members of WDA discussed issues of concern and interest to the organisation, and proposed future collaborative projects, as well elections for new office bearers.

Extension programs

The opening event of the WDA Global Summit, held at Cascade Court, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), featured performances by Indigenous and Pacific groups and also was the occasion for the launch of the new WDA publication, Transcending Borders.

Following the daily Dance Dialogues, an umbrella program of evening performances by leading local professional companies and independent artists was presented. The Australian Reel Dance (on Screen) Festival was also scheduled the week of the Global Summit. On the final night of the Summit, WDA delegates were guests for the opening of the Brisbane Festival and its premiere event of a new visual arts exhibition by Gina Czarnecki, Contagion.