AYDF 2022 – Ausdance VIC

AYDF 2022 united young and emerging contemporary dance artists and the professional allies who work with them for a week of collaboration and creation designed to regenerate the youth dance sector in Australia.

Dates

July 3 – 8, 2022

Location

The University of Melbourne Southbank Campus- Victorian College of the Arts

Highlights from AYDF 2022. Video by Adam Wheeler

Australian Youth Dance Festival 2022

2022 will see a dedicated focus on elevating youth voice and sharing the diverse practice of the youth dance sector and contemporary dance practice at large.

After two years spent apart and online, AYDF motivates the youth dance sector to (RE)CONNECT, (RE)GENERATE, and (RE)IGNITE.

Running concurrent with the festival itself is the Dance Think Tank and Industry Forum, a symposium of professional development for teachers, leaders, artists, and secondary school dance teachers focused on supporting, promoting and sustaining contemporary youth dance practice in Australia.

(RE) GENERATE Performance

Thursday 7 July, 6.30pm and 8.30pm

(RE) GENERATE is a live exploration of Youth Contemporary dance in Australia. Programmed by Co-Artistic Directors Caitlin Comerford and Kyall Shanks this performance is a 90 minute, intimately presented journey showcasing the talents of Youth dance from around the country.

Youth Dance Program

Dance participants worked with inspiring and highly regarded industry professionals in a week long program of professional practice, skills development workshops, performance making, the development of sector literacy, and studio based sharing.

Youth Ambassadors

Ruby Howard
Stompin Youth Dance Company

Think Tank and Industry Forum

Running alongside the youth dancers’ program are two symposium style events opportunities for artists, educators and leaders working in dance or youth arts programs.

A Think Tank Program from 4-6 July will create a space for youth dance leaders to share ideas and plan future development and advocacy opportunities for the sector.

The Industry Forum on 7 July is an open forum for anyone working in arts and creative industries, including local government authorities, and those working with (or interested in working with) young people. The forum will be a site of learning and professional development for teachers, leaders, artists, and educators focused on supporting, promoting, and sustaining contemporary youth dance practice in Australia.

Facilitated by contemporary dance artist and Youth Dance alumni Adam Wheeler, the panel includes; Access and Inclusion advocate, CEO and Artistic Director of Arts Access Victoria Caroline Bowditch, dance maker and independent producer of Filipino descent Efren Pamilacan, Taiwanese-Australian dancer and choreographer Jennifer Ma, Artistic Director of Hobart based youth dance company DRILL Performance Isabella Stone, and Executive Director of Ausdance VIC Michelle Silby.

Supporting Partners

Funding Partner
City of Melbourne Arts Grants

Venue Partner
Victorian College of the Arts at the University of Melbourne

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.

Dates

Location

Australian Youth Dance Festival 2022

(RE) GENERATE Performance

Youth Dance Program

Youth Ambassadors

Think Tank and Industry Forum

Supporting Partners

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