AYDF 2022: (RE)CONNECT, (RE)GENERATE, and (RE)IGNITE
Directed by Caitlin Comerford and Kyall Shanks
In April 2022, the Australian Youth Dance Festival returned in full force, bringing together young and emerging contemporary dance artists with the professional allies who champion their work. After two years apart and online, AYDF 2022 was a week of collaboration, creation, and reconnection, designed to uplift youth voices and re-energise the youth dance sector across Australia.
Guided by the themes (RE)CONNECT, (RE)GENERATE, and (RE)IGNITE, the festival became a space where dancers could exchange ideas, share diverse practices, and celebrate the power of contemporary dance to shape the future. AYDF 2022 was more than a reunion. It was a powerful act of regeneration for the youth dance sector, recharging creative momentum and reminding us of the incredible things that happen when we move together.
Youth Dance Program
Throughout the week, dance participants worked alongside inspiring industry professionals in a rich program of skills development workshops, performance-making, sector literacy sessions, and studio-based sharings. These encounters fostered artistry, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the contemporary dance landscape.
(RE)GENERATE Performance
Programmed by Co-Artistic Directors Caitlin Comerford and Kyall Shanks, this intimate live performance showcased the extraordinary talent of youth dancers from across the country. It was a celebration of creative resilience and the fresh perspectives shaping Australian contemporary dance.
Think Tank and Industry Forum
Running alongside the youth program were two dynamic, symposium-style events for artists, educators, and leaders working in dance or youth arts:
- Dance Think Tank – A dedicated space for youth dance leaders to share ideas, spark collaborations, and map future development and advocacy opportunities for the sector.
- Industry Forum – Open to anyone working in the arts, creative industries, or with young people, this professional development forum explored how to sustain and promote contemporary youth dance practice in Australia.
Facilitated by contemporary dance artist and Youth Dance alumni Adam Wheeler, the Industry Forum panel featured: Caroline Bowditch (Access and Inclusion advocate, CEO & Artistic Director of Arts Access Victoria), Efren Pamilacan (dance maker and independent producer of Filipino descent), Jennifer Ma (Taiwanese-Australian dancer and choreographer), Isabella Stone (Artistic Director of Hobart-based youth dance company DRILL Performance), and Michelle Silby (Executive Director of Ausdance VIC).
AYDF 2022 is supported by
