latest news - Ausdance VIC

1 December 2022

As we get older our mobility, flexibility, and strength decline. This is an inevitable result of ageing, and we don’t yet have any mythical elixir that reverses this process. However, ...

Marketing Officer

11 November 2022

Ausdance VIC invites suitably qualified and passionate applicants to apply for the role of Marketing Officer. This is a Part-time role and we are flexible with working hours across Tuesday ...

One body, two voices

26 October 2022

Joshua Pether, Speaking Up for Dance Dancer and performance artist Joshua Pether is a proud Kalkadoon man who lives and works on Noongar country in Western Australia. Joshua has been ...

State Election and Dance

20 October 2022

Access a template letter to send to the sitting member and/or candidates in your electorate. We Dance, and We Vote! It is important to let your state representatives know this, ...

Supercharged! Dance Incursion

20 October 2022

Supercharged! is a Victorian Curriculum aligned dance incursion that brings specialist dance teachers to primary schools. Dance isn’t just about learning choreography and performing like a pro. It is fun, stimulating, ...

Aussie kids not moving enough? Maybe they could dance!

19 October 2022

The 2022 Active Healthy Kids Australia Report Card makes for sober reading. The report card is published every two years by the Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity (ASPA) and involves ...

Helen Herbertson - Still Dancing

5 October 2022

In conversation with the 2022 winner of the Australia Council Award for Dance. ...

We Dance and We Vote

31 August 2022

Advocacy in the lead up to the Victorian State Election As the peak body representing the interests of dance and dancers in Victoria, Ausdance VIC is working to make sure ...

1 2 3 … 11 Next »

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.

Ruby Howard

Christopher Wade

Natalie Cunzolo

Jacqui Maida

Kyall Shanks

Co-Artistic Director

Caitlin Comerford

Co-Artistic Director

Marty Hirst

Communications Officer

Gabrielle Bennet

Dance Development Officer

Sophie Conway

Sage Price

Julia Villaflor

Mihkayla Bartlett

Meghann Burton

MayaRae Navarrete

Jacqui Maida

Ebony Ryan-Miners

Curtis Thorpe

Arshiya Abhishree

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