latest news – Ausdance VIC

27 April 2022

In 1982 the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute founded International Dance Day to be celebrated every year on 29 April, the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), choreographer and ...

COVID-19 Restrictions easing

21 April 2022

Victorian Government COVID-19 Restriction and Recommendation Changes from 11.59pm Friday 22 April As the peak of the Omicron wave begins to subside – and with almost 70 per cent of ...

Get Active Kids

22 March 2022

We are pleased to provide an update on our advocacy for all dance providers to be included in the Get Active Kids voucher program. As previously communicated, the Victorian Government ...

Ausdance VIC at the BOLD Festival

8 March 2022

Recently, Ausdance VIC attended BOLD22 (2-6 March 2022), a spectacular five-day event celebrating intercultural, inclusive and intergenerational dance. As a leader in Creative Ageing, we were keen to connect and ...

New Training to address skill Gap

3 March 2022

Ausdance VIC launches Nationally Recognised Accredited Training Creative Ageing through Dance to address skill gap in an ageing population Be part of a new workforce safely teaching and facilitating dance and expressive ...

Supercharged! Positive Start

1 March 2022

Students dancing for a positive start to 2022 Victorian students will have a chance to dance away the COVID blues in 2022 thanks to Supercharged!, an innovative dance education initiative ...

COVID-19 Mask Changes

25 February 2022

Victorian Government COVID-19 Restriction and Recommendation Changes from 11.59pm Friday 25 February Masks rules to ease Masks will only be required indoors in the following circumstances, unless an exemption applies: ...

Get Active Kids

18 February 2022

The process and activity provider eligibility has changed for the upcoming Round 4 (late March to the end of May). Please read this information and our advocacy updates carefully. In ...

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Michelle Silby

Executive Director

Michelle Silby has an extensive career in dance in both creative and administrative functions. She is the Executive Director of both Ausdance NSW and Ausdance Vic. This dual role leads the teams, through strategy, operational efficiencies and large-scale outcomes; the Director of Big Dance Australia (2014-), and the was the Co-convener of the Arts Industry Council Victoria (2017-2019). Currently Michelle sits on the following Industry and government committee’s; ACFIBS for NSW, Industry Advisory Group, Victorian Skills Commission (VIC), Independent Reference Committee, Arts & Culture related Industries, Vice Chair (National training and professional development) Previously Chair, Regional Arts NSW funding 2014-17, Several Arts NSW funding panels, Churchill Fellowship 2013-16.

Over the last 25 years, Michelle has worked across a variety of contexts as a dance performer, teacher, choreographer, educator and management roles: as a director, festival director, company manager and education consultant in the UK, Europe, and the last 14 years, in Australia. After successfully leading Ausdance NSW since Oct 2012, she was appointed Executive Director, Ausdance VIC in Nov 2015. She is inspired by the opportunities that leading both states will bring to the dance sector, wider communities and respective organisations. She has held roles as the Program Manager, Dance at the Australia Council for the Arts, where her responsibilities included; working with the board, policy and strategy, dance funding programs, key dance initiatives, such as Tasmanian Community Dance Project and Young Emerging opportunities for example, JUMP (2010-2012), Executive Producer for the 2014 Australian Dance Awards and is also an Independent Consultant for Arts and Dance with various clients across Australia.

As an arts leader, she is strategic, entrepreneurial and generous with her time and support of others. Michelle was born in the UK, where she studied dance at Arts Educational Schools London, followed by a post-graduate year at London Contemporary Dance School, The Place in 1992. Later in 2000-1, after moving into management and leadership roles, she undertook an intensive arts and business management course for arts leaders and was most recently awarded a subsidised place to attend short course in Australia for not-for-profit leaders by Harvard Business school.

During her 15 year professional dance career in the UK and Europe, Michelle worked across a variety of contexts as performer, touring Europe for over a decade, educator, choreographer, director, festival director, company manager and consultant. A particular highlight of her career in the UK included making a significant contribution to the dance infrastructure for the North East of England, through the formulation and delivery of a dance development plan with secured funding.

Isis Pattison

Ruby Howard

Christopher Wade

Natalie Cunzolo

Jacqui Maida

Meghann Burton

Ebony Ryan-Miners

Kyall Shanks

Co-Artistic Director

Caitlin Comerford

Co-Artistic Director

Marty Hirst

Communications Officer

Gillian Jordan

RTO Manager

Alisdair Macindoe

Kate Denborough

Amity Jarvis

Henen Haines

Treasurer

Amy Jennings

Secretary

Kelly Dickson

Chair

Alison McIntosh-Deszcz

Manager Marketing, Digital Media and Memberships

Shweta Kawatra

Marketing Communications Manager

Elise Brennan

Program Coordinator

Cathy Smith

RTO Operations Manager

Katrina Rank

Director of Education and Life Long Learning

Robbie Carmellotti

General Manager

Michelle Silby

Executive Director