Ausdance WA

20/08/2026

We recently caught up with KiN's creator and performer Isha Sharvani to hear about the show's origins, its 2026 regional tour, and the affecting nature of the work...

"I believe people connect to KiN because it’s very real and personal," Isha says.

"The work explores the cycle of life - something every one of us experiences in our own way - and speaks of experiences that transcend culture, language, and geography."

"We wanted KiN to spark conversations and encourage people to reflect on their own families, their own heritage, and the people who have shaped who they are. When audiences leave the theatre carrying those reflections with them, that’s incredibly rewarding."

To read our full interview with Isha 👉 https://www.ausdancewa.org.au/blog/2026/07/27/kin-touring-for-connection-and-a-lasting-impact/

📸 Images by Christopher Young

18/08/2026

“There's something about learning about your body theoretically, but also kinaesthetically, that puts you a step ahead in your adult life. You understand your body, you have confidence that you can challenge yourself and take on new things.”
- Molly Tipping, Feldenkrais practitioner

✍ Excerpts from our recent article 'Dance Develops More Than Performers: The transferable skills hidden in dance education and why everybody should consider taking dance in year 11 and 12' by Nina Levy

Read the full piece 👉 https://www.ausdancewa.org.au/blog/2026/07/16/dance-develops-more-than-performers/

📸 ‘Shift’ by Diedre Atkinson and Nicola Wade, Year 10 – Year 12 Ballet. John Curtin College of the Arts. Supplied.

14/08/2026

Huge congratulations to the team behind POINTE: Dancing on a Knife's Edge, on their wins at the WA Screen Culture Awards last month! 👏🎬

🏆 Innovation in Documentary/Non Fiction
Presented by Professional Film Crew of WA
POINTE: Dancing on a Knife's Edge

🏆 Outstanding Achievement in Editing
Presented by Sandbox
POINTE Dancing on a Knife's Edge – Nicholas Dunlop

Huge congratulations to Dawn, Floeur and the team on this wonderful achievement!

🎬 Did you miss the film when it was last screened? Never fear, an encore screening is coming up at The Backlot on Sunday 23 August at 4pm!
Tickets 👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pointe-dancing-on-a-knifes-edge-encore-tickets-1994631032111

📸 Editor Nicholas Dunlop and Producer/Director Dawn Jackson. (Supplied)

21/07/2026

In case you missed it - the new Dance Industry Code of Practice for 2026-2027 is here!

Developed by MEAA and Dancers Australia, the updated Code provides practical guidance for dancers, dance teachers and choreographers on contracts, pay, workplace safety, social media work, image rights, AI, and more.

Most notably, it has also approved a 4.75% increase to dance industry code rates.

Whether you’re an artist, educator or employer, the code is an important resource for the dance sector, supporting fairer, safer and more sustainable work.

We strongly support the dance industry code of practice and recommend all dance artists, workers and employers of dance are up to date with the changes.

For more information 👉 https://www.danceaustralia.com.au/news/new-dance-industry-code-of-practice-a-major-step-forward-for-dancers-teachers-and-choreographers

19/07/2026

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring dance is recognised and valued within education, we commissioned dance critic and writer Nina Levy to explore the unique benefits of studying Dance in Years 11 and 12 within the WA curriculum.

Nina highlights the broad range of transferable skills, capabilities and knowledge that Dance education develops, and interviews both industry experts and recent graduates of the ATAR Dance course.

The piece is designed to support students, parents, teachers, career advisors, school leaders and the wider community to better understand and appreciate the lasting value of dance—not only as an art form, but as a powerful foundation for future study, work and a fulfilling life.

We would love for you to have a read and share with anyone who might be interested 🧡

By Nina Levy for Ausdance WA “One of the things about dance that I think is underappreciated is that you’re learning about your body. And every single person has a...

14/07/2026

Attention artists! 📣 Check out these exciting funding opportunities!

Learn more: https://www.cits.wa.gov.au/department/news/news-article/2026/07/14/creative-projects-funding-programs-supporting-a-vibrant-and-creative-wa!

Artists and creative industry professionals and organisations, get ready!

Creative project and travel funding is now available through three new grant programs.

The Creative Projects for Individuals and Groups and Creative Projects for Organisations programs support a one-off project or a program of activity.
Applications close 13 August 2026.

The Creative Industries Travel and Trade Program supports regional, national and international travel opportunities.
Applications close 3 December 2026.

To find out more or to apply, visit the link in the comments below.

13/07/2026

Ausdance reinstates Peggy van Praagh and Keith Bain Fellowships with $20,000 boost for Australian choreographers!

Emerging choreographers of all dance genres are invited to apply for one of two $10,000 fellowships, made possible by generous bequests from the founding artistic director of The Australian Ballet, Dame Peggy van Praagh, and former Bodenwieser dancer and NIDA movement director, Keith Bain OAM.

Both artists were passionate about supporting Australian choreographers, and Ausdance is delighted to be able to continue that support through these fellowships.

⭐ Peggy van Praagh Choreographic Fellowship 👉 https://ausdance.org.au/projects/details/ausdance-peggy-van-praagh-choreographic-fellowship
⭐ Keith Bain Choreographic Travel Fellowship 👉 https://ausdance.org.au/projects/details/keith-bain-choreographic-travel-fellowship

⏰ Applications close Friday 31 July 2026, 3pm AWST. Applicants must be a current financial Ausdance member.

📸 1) Peggy van Praagh at the Bryan Lawrence School of Ballet in Canberra with student Kathy Hourigan. 2) Keith Bain with Helen Lisle in Concerto Grosse (choreographed by Keith)—publicity shot taken at the Art Gallery of NSW in the early 1960s. Photos courtesy of Ausdance National.

12/07/2026

New Board Member: Scott Ewen ✨

Scott Ewen is a choreographer, contemporary dancer, educator and movement practitioner from Western Australia. A WAAPA graduate, Scott was awarded the Hawaiian Award for Outstanding Graduate and, during his final year of training, travelled to New York to perform works by Sue Peacock, Leda Muhana and Jin-Wen Yu as part of the World Dance Alliance Global Summit and Festival.

Following graduation, Scott established an extensive professional performance career spanning Australia, Europe and the Middle East. In 2010, he joined Australian Dance Theatre under the direction of Garry Stewart, performing nationally and internationally for six years.

As a choreographer, Scott's works have been commissioned and presented by organisations including New Zealand Dance Company, Strut Dance, LINK Dance Company, New Zealand School of Dance, WAAPA, Adelaide College of the Arts, and more. His work has been presented throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, North America and Africa.

Scott is also committed to strengthening the broader dance ecology in WA. Through his work with Onyx Movement - Perth he is developing innovative pathways between contemporary dance, community engagement and allied health, creating opportunities for the artform to contribute to health, wellbeing and lifelong participation in movement.

We are SO excited to have Scott working with us! 🧡

29/06/2026

A great love of dance starts with a great teacher 🧡

This EOFY, you can help ensure dance educators across WA have the support they need to inspire future generations.

Your donation helps Ausdance WA:
⭐ Equip teachers with high-quality professional learning.
⭐ Develop curriculum resources for schools.
⭐ Advocate for dance education.
⭐ Foster safe, inclusive dance environments.
⭐ Support regional educators with greater access to opportunities.

When you invest in dance education, you're investing in creativity, confidence, wellbeing and community.

Support the future of dance 👉 Donate before June 30 at https://www.ausdancewa.org.au/donate/

28/06/2026

New Board Member: Min Zhu ✨

Dr. Min Zhu is a theatre performer-maker, choreographer, and practitioner-researcher. She holds a PhD in Performing Arts from ECU, where her research focused on physical theatre practice, intercultural movement training, and performance-making. Her doctoral research – exploring the application of Tai Ji in contemporary performer training and performance-making – received the 2017 WAAPA Research Award.

With more than 10 years of training in Chinese traditional dance, alongside extensive exposure to diverse physical theatre methodologies, Min’s creative practice investigates the contemporary reinterpretation and transformation of traditional culture through the integration of intercultural artistic forms.

In 2025, Min founded MIN Dance Studio, a platform dedicated to fostering cultural exchange in dance between China and Australia. That same year, she was nominated for Outstanding Choreographer at the 2025 Performing Arts WA Awards for her work INTERTWINE.

Min was also co-founder of the China–Australia Art Link (2017–2019), through which she initiated a cross-cultural drama education project in collaboration with the Beijing Normal University Education Group. The program provided professional development training for more than 1,000 primary school teachers across China.

We are so pleased to have Min join the Ausdance WA board 🧡