Australia Dancing - Australian Choreographic Centre, The (1996

Australian Choreographic Centre, The (1996 - 2007)

Gould, Ross: Zaimon Vilmanis in Cheryl Heazlewood's 'Out of time', the Australian Choreographic Centre, 2001

The Australian Choreographic Centre, based in the Gorman House Arts Centre, Canberra, was established as a national centre for choreographic research and development. A not-for-profit incorporated association that was formed after a restructure of Vis-a-Vis Dance Canberra, the Centre was launched in November 1996. Originally the Choreographic Centre, it added 'Australian' to its name in 2001. The centre offered fellowships, residencies, commissions, mentorships, work experience and youth dance choreographic projects. The director of the centre from its foundation to its close in 2007 was Mark Gordon.

Choreographic fellowships were the heart of the centre's programs, forming an integral part of the centre's aim 'to provide a supporting structure for choreographic development in Australia'. Fellowships provided opportunities for choreographers to explore the choreographic process and develop new works. Artists who were awarded fellowships include Brett Daffy, Kate Denborough, Jodie Farrugia, Norman Hall, Liz Lea, Fiona Malone, Sarah Neville, Jason Pitt, Paulina Quinteros, Tuula Roppola, Megan Rowland, Garry Stewart and Tanja Liedtke.

The second major program offered by the centre was the choreographic residencies program. Curated by the centre's director, the program was a flexible structure that provided choreographers with in-kind support, through space and administrative facilities, to develop and present their work. Artists who were part of the program include Arun Munozz, Vivienne Rogis and Doug Collins.

The Quantum Leap Youth Choreographic Ensemble was the centre's third major program, aiming to help young people 'develop an understanding of the choreographic process'. Under the artistic direction of Ruth Osborne since its inception in 1999, the ensemble performed in annual productions of 'Quantum Leap at the Playhouse', and 'Chaos'. Other projects have included 'Hot to Trot', 'Live Ad', and training workshops. A feature of many of these programs was the performance opportunities offered to boys and young men.

In 2006, triennial funding to the Centre by the Australia Council was discontinued. In 2007, the Centre ceased to function in its established form, being relaunched from 2008 as the 'QL2 Centre for Youth Dance'. QL2 continues to function as the home of Quantum Leap, building on existing programs to support and develop young dancers at all levels: junior and senior dancers, tertiary dance students and graduates finding their way in the profession.

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