Dance

A Chat with Sam Young-Wright of Sydney Dance Company

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  Having grown up dancing in Canberra as part of the city’s own youth dance company Quantum Leap, I eagerly anticipate the arrival of each contemporary dance performance that comes to town. I find these performances even more enjoyable when they feature a familiar face. Such is the case for Sydney Dance Company’s latest offering Orb, a double bill comprising Ocho (meaning eight in Spanish) to mark artistic director Raphael Bonachela’s eighth year with the Company, and Full Moon, a piece choreographed by Taiwanese choreographer Cheng Tsung-lung. Amongst the beautiful dancers who will perform in Orb is Canberran Sam Young-Wright.… Continue Reading →

VELVET – Entering Disco Wonderland with Rechelle Mansour

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  ‘I started dancing when I was three. I was a crazy kid at home; I wouldn’t sit still so my parents were like “lets channel her energy into dance.”’ The story of how Rechelle Mansour came to dance is probably a familiar one for most of us. I certainly have fond memories of climbing into my leotard and being taken to class to dance myself sleepy after school. For a lot of us, though, our passion for dance dwindles as we get older and the dreams we had of being a professional dancer get pushed aside to make way… Continue Reading →

BOLD – A New Dance Festival

Emma Batchelor 2 Comments

While Enlighten festival sets Canberra alight, activating the city in innovative and engaging ways,  another festival is unfolding; this one focusing on the intersection between movement, history, multiculturalism, and art. BOLD, a new dance festival curated by a committee of celebrated dance artists, will examine the legacy of dance across both professional and community practice spanning different cultures, age groups and backgrounds. Over four days, the festival will bring together speakers, performers and facilitators from a range of backgrounds to deliver workshops, talks, forums, film showings and performances. Legends of dance including Meryl Tankard, Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, Dr Garry Lester, Dr Stephanie Burridge, Vicki can Hout, Annie… Continue Reading →

An Interview with Alex Carson

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  Alex Carson, one of Australia’s most successful commercial dance exports, has forged an incredible career overseas performing for the likes of Janet Jackson and Gwen Stefani. We had the privilege of sitting down with her to talk about a workshop Alex lead in her hometown of Canberra, 11:Eleven. We also chatted about growing up in Canberra, her amazing career and what’s coming up next for her.   Naturally I started our conversation by asking how Alex got into dance. ‘I was always dancing when I was little,’ she explained. ‘I always watched a lot of dance movies. I was… Continue Reading →

6th Position – A Dance Studio For Adults

Emma Batchelor 1 Comment

  Not only is taking a dance class a great way exercise, it has got to be one of the most fun ways there is to break a sweat.  So attention Canberra, there is a new dance studio in town for adults and it launches next week. We caught up with founder of 6th Position Gen Chan to get all the goss.   Leiden: What is 6th Position? Gen: It is the parallel position of your feet – but it is also Canberra’s newest ADULT dance studio!   L: What classes do you offer? G: We offer classes for adults… Continue Reading →

Alex Carson – 11: Eleven Workshop

Emma Batchelor 1 Comment

  One of Australia’s most successful commercial dance exports, Alex Carson, has forged an incredible career overseas performing for the likes of Janet Jackson and Gwen Stefani. We had the privilege of sitting down with her to not only talk about growing up in Canberra and her amazing career (stay tuned for our full interview) but also about a workshop Alex is leading in her hometown of Canberra, 11:Eleven. Designed to help people wanting to enter the professional dance industry, this workshop will cover a range of subjects all of which are crucial to getting a start in the industry.… Continue Reading →

An Interview with Eliza Sanders – Dancer, Creator, Innovator

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  After recently seeing a double bill of two thought-provoking dance works pedal and Castles, to say the least we were intrigued. Presented by emerging theatre company House of Sand,  these innovative works mixed dance, theatre and cabaret seamlessly, deftly exploring subject matter often left untouched by the medium of dance. Each work was created and performed by Eliza Sanders and directed by Charles Sanders, the bother and sister behind House of Sand.  We sat down with Eliza, to find out more about the making of these works as well as her and Charles’ critically acclaimed new company.   What… Continue Reading →