Image: Phoebe Robinson, Only Leone, Amory Culvenor for Dancehouse
In a bid to promote innovative contemporary dance and generate new audiences, this new biennial award will commission several new dance pieces within a competitive arena.
An open call in early 2014, with the exact date soon to be finalised, will be made for Australian choreographers to submit a short video piece of a recent performance idea. From these submissions, a national and international jury of industry professionals will select six choreographers and invite them to make a short new work. Four finalists are selected from this process and are given access to practice space, creative resources and a performance space for the finals by Carriageworks in July 2014.
The winning choreographer will receive $30,000.
‘The award is very much focused on commissioning new work, and really supports the developments of new works by Australian choreographers,’ said Carriageworks Director Lisa Havilah.
According to Havilah, the emergence of an Australian choreographic prize is a rarity compared with the vast amount of visual art prizes on offer in Australia. By establishing an award such as this, elevated support for contemporary dance in Australia will be provided and a wider audience found.
Melbourne-based Dancehouse is also developing and supporting the project by offering access to space and resources throughout the semi-final phase, and by supporting the semi-finalist presentation in Melbourne. Dancehouse is a dance centre that offers residencies, performances, training, and research programs focusing on independent dance. The organisation is dedicated to the development of moving art that challenges and invigorates while remaining socially relevant.
Like Carriageworks, Dancehouse is interested in finding new audiences. Involvement with the Keir Foundation, a grant-making body that supports new and emerging artists across artforms, has made this possible.
NextMedia founder and board member of the Biennale of Sydney and Aerowaves European Dance Network Phillip Keir, along with his wife Sarah Benjamin, established the Keir Foundation in 2004. The organisation focuses on helping small to medium arts groups and has backed the development of much contemporary work, primarily in the areas of visual arts and dance.
The Keir Choreographic Award is a natural step for this philanthropic organisation, and the alliance between The Keir Foundation, Dancehouse and Carriageworks provides a firm basis for much new work to be funded, created and presented.
This will surely have choreographers dancing on air.
Works from finalists of the Keir Choreographic Award will be presented at Carriageworks from 6–19 July beginning at 8pm. Tickets are $35. Visit the Carriageworks website for more updated award information.
