latest news – Ausdance VIC

23 July 2021

We are pleased to see support being made available to small businesses who have previously missed out, we hope this will contribute to easing some of the pain of this ...

Circuit Breaker Lockdown

15 July 2021

To the Dance sector, all across Victoria, It is with a heavy heart we share the news of a statewide, 5 day hard lockdown, beginning 11.59pm tonight through to 11.59pm ...

COVIDSafe Restrictions

15 July 2021

In response to the current evolving situation face masks must be worn in all indoor settings, and outdoors when 1.5m distance cannot be maintained. We are watching this situation carefully, ...

Response to Creative State 2025

15 July 2021

The Creative State 2025 Strategy was announced by the Hon Danny Pearson MP, Minister for Creative Industries on 12 July 2021 Ausdance VIC fully supports the bold statement of support ...

The Australian Curriculum: The Arts Submission

9 July 2021

The Ausdance National Education Committee, led by Dr Jeff Meiners and Sue Fox, has worked to prepare the attached submission to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) on The ...

Update: Easing COVIDSafe Restrictions

7 July 2021

Today our state is united once more in dance and restriction levels. 2 key points to remember for rehearsals, classes and the start of Term 3: A lower density requirement ...

Think Tank Dance Assembly

6 July 2021

As part of an artist-led initiative to help Melbourne’s independent dance community to cope with Melbourne’s 112-day lockdown in 2020, the Think Tank Dance Assembly was born. TTDA was a ...

AYDF Cancelled

29 June 2021

Ausdance VIC has reluctantly had to cancel the Australian Youth Dance Festival scheduled for 4-9 July. Around 90 percent of attendees were coming from outside of Victoria, so COVID-19 lockdowns ...

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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

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

Jess Zintschenko

Associate Producer, Programs & Events

Cathy Smith

RTO Operations Manager

Katrina Rank

Director of Education and Life Long Learning

Robbie Carmellotti

General Manager

Michelle Silby

Executive Director