Australia Dancing - One Extra Dance (1978

One Extra Dance (1978 - 2006)

Lansac, Regis: Dancers of One Extra Dance Company in Kai Tai Chan's 'One Man's Rice', 1982

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One Extra Dance was founded in Sydney, 1976 by Kai Tai Chan as the One Extra Dance Group. In 1978 the company became the One Extra Dance Company and was known by this name until 1983. It was renamed the One Extra Company in 1983 and is now known as One Extra Dance. Chan was the company’s artistic director until 1991, when Graeme Watson and Julie Anne Long took on a joint directorship (1991-1996). Under Watson and Long One Extra Dance developed strong collaborations with dancers, designers and composers, including Eamon D’arcy and Antony Partos. The company is currently led by executive producer Amanda Card who acts as a curator and facilitator.

One Extra Dance’s first production, The Drop in Snow (1976), occurred simultaneously in various spaces at the Stanley Palmer Culture Palace in Sydney. From 1976 to 1982 One Extra Dance ran two to three choreographic workshops each year, which culminated in public performances. These workshops became a creative development platform for many choreographers of the time, including Coralie Hinkley, Chrissie Koltai, Lucy Jumawan, Karen Kerkhoven, Graeme Watson, Graham Jones, Rhys Martin, Chrissie Parrott, Mark Daly, Garry Lester, Lloyd Newson, Felicity MacDonald, Eleanor Brickhill, Nigel Kellaway, John O’Connell, Anthony Wong and Brett Adams.

The work of the company has been toured internationally on various occasions since 1985 when Midday Moon was seen at Copenhagen’s International Theatre Festival. Later tours saw the company take works to Portsmouth, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Hong Kong, and various venues in Indonesia including Denpasar, Jakarta and Solo.

In 2000 One Extra Dance launched the inaugural Reel Dance, International Dance on Screen Festival.

The One Extra Dance organisation ceased operating in December 2006 and its role as a producer was taken up by the Performance Space in Sydney.

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Find more about One Extra Dance in:

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