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WDA Global Summit 2008
The 2008 World Dance Alliance Global Summit was hosted and presented by Ausdance Queensland and World Dance Alliance—Asia Pacific (WDA-AP) in partnership with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Creative Industries, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) and Ausdance National. It took place from 12 – 18 July across several venues at QUT, QPAC, the Parliamentary Annexe with ancillary events at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts and the Thomas Dixon Centre. Its undisputed success was no doubt due to its diversity; culturally, in terms of genres, and through the wide range of its activities and presentation modes. The WDA Global Summit attracted over 400 participants from 26 countries across its five major program components in addition to a program of performances and on screen programs and photographic exhibitions. Contributing to the richness and vibrancy of the Summit were 191 conference presenters, 12 international master teachers, 2 choreographic mentors and 17 guest Dance Dialogue speakers and provocateurs. The Summit concept, Dance Dialogues: conversations across cultures, art forms, practice, was guided by an underlying philosophy to privilege both the voice and the practices of our emerging and experienced artists and to encourage interdisciplinarity of practice and academic scholarship. We specifically recognised the struggles that professional artists face once they have graduated. Through our performative panels and performance dialogues as part of the conference, along with the intensive international Choreolab and Masterclasses, we provided a supportive platform for sharing creative work as well as professional development opportunities at the highest level. Issues of significance in a 21st century environmentIn this age of increasing interdisciplinarity amongst the arts and between arts and the sciences, we broadened the scope of our program beyond dance specific concerns in a mutual sharing of those issues affecting all of us in the creative arts; performers, creators, directors, educators, academics, producers, critics and scholars, as well as the administrative, health and leisure sectors. We therefore framed all program components of our differing ‘dialogues’ around four key issues of significance in a 21st century environment:
These four issues underpinned all program components which comprised a series of ‘dialogues’:
The performance programThe evening performance program and associated events showcase some of our best dance professionals on stage and on screen—Expressions Dance Company, Queensland Ballet and the national Reel Dance (on screen) Festival. Our opening program hosted and supported by QPAC, featured senior Indigenous artists William Barton and Djakapurra as well as our key emerging artists from Treading the Pathways. The closing event coincided with the opening of Contagion by innovative cross-platform media artist Gina Czarnecki who worked with three of Australia’s top scientists to create this work. The executive committee, partners and sponsorsThe WDA Global Summit could not have happened without sustained commitment from partners, sponsors and of course those who gave of their time and expertise to realise the program. The executive committee (of which I was Chair) comprised Marcus Hughes (Program Director and Executive Director of Ausdance Queensland), Janelle Christofis (Program Development Manager, Queensland Performing Arts Centre QPAC and Chair of Ausdance Queensland) and Julie Dyson AM (Secretary of WDA-AP and National Director of Ausdance). The executive committee was supported by a very effective Conference sub-committee, convenors of each program component, a QUT Events Manager and her staff, two Global Summit funded project officers, staff of Ausdance Queensland and over 30 volunteers. Major partners were QUT, QPAC and Ausdance National with cash and in-kind support, provision of venues, material and human resources and expertise. Brisbane Festival has supported our Dance Dialogues program and provided promotional support. Major funding partners were Arts Queensland, the Australia Council for the Arts, the Community Benefit Fund, Sidney Myer Fund, British Council and Besen Family Foundation. |
Conference papersAn on-line submission and refereeing process will soon be available for conference presenters. If you are submitting papers, please read the Guidelines for submission of papers.
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Copyright 2007 Australian Dance Council—Ausdance Inc. Acknowledgements |