Australia Dancing - Leigh Warren and Dancers (1993

Leigh Warren and Dancers (1993 - )

Makeyev, Alex: Aidan Kane Munn (foreground) with Victor Bramich and Kim Hales-McCarthur in Leigh Warren's 'Petrouchka', Leigh Warren and Dancers, 1993

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Leigh Warren and Dancers was established in 1993 following Warren’s departure from Australian Dance Theatre, the company he had directed between 1987 and 1992. Based in Adelaide, initially as resident company for the Norwood City Council, Leigh Warren and Dancers moved to the Lion Arts Centre, on North Terrace in Adelaide's West End, in 1997. As well as performing frequently in Adelaide and touring nationally, the company maintains an extensive overseas touring program. Since 1993 it has toured to Holland, Singapore, Japan, London, Indonesia and Korea. The company's founding members were Michele Buday, Kim Hales McCarthur, Aidan Kane Munn, Victor Bramich, Paul O'Sullivan and Delia Silvan. It has been directed by Warren since its foundation.

The company's repertoire largely comprises works by Warren and includes some pieces that were originally choreographed for Australian Dance Theatre. It includes Warren's Couch (1993), Petrouchka (1993), Front Lawn (1993), Never Mind the Bindies (1993), Let's Do It (1993), Fast Yarns (1993), Helix (1993), Death of Klinghoffer (1994), Lure (1994), Shimmer (1998), Swerve (1998), Divining (2000), Mixed Doubles (2005) and Seven (2009) as well as works by William Forsythe, Glen Tetley, Antony Tudor, and Jiri Kylian. The current repertoire is listed on the company's website, which is available as a link at the top of this page.

Warren has recently collaborated with various other organisations and choreographers in creating works for the company. Quick Brown Fox, which the company premiered at the 2001 Melbourne Festival , was created collaboratively by Warren and William Forsythe. Between 2002 and 2007 Warren choreographed and directed the 'Portrait Trilogy' of operas by Phillip Glass. These productions - Akhnaten (2002), Einstein on the Beach (Parts 3 & 4 - 2004, Parts 1 & 2 - 2006) and Satyagraha (2007) were a collaboration between the State Opera of South Australia, the Adelaide Vocal Project and Leigh Warren and Dancers. Petroglyphs-Signs of Life was co-choreographed by Warren and Gina Rings and presented by the company and the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute in 2005, and the 2007 production Wanderlust was again a collaboration, this time with Japanese director/choreographer Uno Man.

The company has been the recipient of many awards including the inaugural Adelaide Critics Circle Award for 'Outstanding Achievement by a Group' for Shimmer, a series of Australian Dance Awards and Green Room Awards and a Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award.

Bibliography:

The Ausdance Guide to Australian Dance Companies, 1994 (Canberra: AGPS, 1994), pp. 134-141.

Research Materials

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Find more about Leigh Warren and Dancers in:

Internet - Google
Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
Pictures - Picture Australia