Australia Dancing - Dancehouse (1992

Dancehouse (1992 - )

Green, Jon: Rehearsal for Phillip Adams' 'Upholster', BalletLab, 2001

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Dancehouse, located in the Melbourne suburb of North Carlton, is an 'artist led centre for the creation and performance of new movement'. Its mission is to 'foster the development and presentation of innovative and diverse dance practice'. Established in 1992, the centre was initially run by artists on a volunteer basis and offered a range of classes, workshops and forums. In its second year of operation Dancehouse received funding from the Australia Council for a program of events, Manmade, coordinated by co-artistic directors Hellen Sky and Sylvia Staehli. Subsequent artistic directors have included Helen Herbertson (2001-2003), Dianne Reid (2004-2006), and David Tyndall (2007-).

The activities of Dancehouse have significantly expanded since its early years, focusing on the three broad areas of performance, research and training. The centre offers weekly classes, guest teachers, specialist workshops such as Improvisation Interchange, curated performances, seminars and conversation days. Dancehouse also engages in partnerships with artists and organisations, hosting and creative exchange, and offers short residencies. The Learning Curve Mentoring program has offered young artists the opportunity to engage with the practices of more experienced artists such as Ros Warby, Brian Lucas, Russell Dumas and Jo Lloyd. Professional development opportunities are also offered to 'mid-career' artists. A residency program offers two artists per year studio space and financial support as well as complete production and promotional support through a premiere season of their work at Dancehouse.

Curated performance seasons, a special focus of the activities of Dancehouse, have featured Bodyworks (1996-2000, 2002-2003), Great Escapes (1997-1999, 2001-2002), Mixed Metaphor (1997-2001), Cracking it Open (2002), The Dance Card (2003, 2004), Log in as a Guest (2004), Fringe Showcase (2004) and Dance Lumiere, a season of dance films (1997, 1999). More recent highlights include independent showcases of We Like Shorts (2007) and Girls on Boys (2008).

Collaboration is an important feature of Dancehouse, working with organisations such as STRUT Dance, Critical Path, Ausdance, Arts House, Malthouse, The Melbourne Festival, The Centre for Contemporary Photography, Rotary, 3MBS Classical Radio, Hong Kong Dance Alliance, The Dance Box (Osaka), Global Japan Network and 6PAC. Over the years it has hosted imported performance seasons by companies such as Tracks Dance Theatre (1996), Garry Rowe Co (1998, 1999) and Dance Exchange (1999); a company in residence season by BalletLab (2002); and the presentation of Leigh Warren and Dancers' Wanderlust (2007). A partnership between Dancehouse, STRUT Dance (Perth) and the Dance Box (Osaka) resulted in the current touring partnership Dyuetto which was launched at Dancehouse in 2007. Further collaborations include that with the 2007 Melbourne Festival of the Arts for John Cage's Musicircus and EARobics Music & Dance initiative in 2008.

Since 2006, Dancehouse has hosted the Terrain Dance Festival. This multicultural biennial event celebrates contemporary dance from culturally diverse artists and offers performances as well as a number of free activities including dance classes, artist forums and masterclasses. Since 2008 it has included an artist-in-residence program in collaboration with Ausdance Northern Territory. The inaugural artist-in-residence was Rachael Wallis.

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