Australia Dancing - TasDance (1981

TasDance (1981 - )

Scambler, Paul: Wendy McPhee, Jason Watson and Michael O'Donohue in 'A-peeling', Tasdance, 1997

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TasDance was founded as the Tasmanian Dance Company in 1981. Based in Launceston the company was founded as Australia's first dance-in-education ensemble by its founding artistic director Jenny Kinder. Initially the company worked largely with school groups but towards the end of Kinder's tenure as director expanded its activities to include the wider community. Following Kinder's departure as artistic director the company was led by Richard Allen and Karen Pearlman during 1995 and 1996. Annie Greig was appointed director in 1997.

Under Kinder the company presented a broad repertoire of contemporary dance commissioned largely from Australian choreographers including Neil Adams, Nanette Hassall, Helen Herbertson, Sandra Parker, Beth Shelton, and Graeme Watson. Allen and Pearlman introduced a range of works that often incorporated new media, and text. They also made a number of works for film. Grieg has continued the policy begun by Kinder of commissioning new works from Australian choreographers, including Paul Mercurio, Leigh Warren and Natalie Weir, as well as restaging works from established choreographers of contemporary dance such as Graeme Murphy.

The company has undertaken a number of national and international tours, including performances in Canberra, Geelong, New Zealand, Beijing, New York and Korea, where the company was invited to perform at the 4th international Asia Pacific Performing Arts Symposium.

Bibliography:

TasDance's repertoire is listed on the company's website, available as a link at the top of this page. The company's repertoire to 1994 is also listed in The Ausdance Guide to Australian Dance Companies 1994 (Canberra: AGPS, 1994), pp. 228-243.

Research Materials

Other resources

Find more about TasDance in:

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