Company Taking Danceweek To The Masses
The Age
Thursday April 24, 1997
ALTHOUGH Danceweek has been a feature of the arts calender in Victoria for the past 10 years, this year may be the first that a lot of people actually know about it.
When Rose Godde took up the position of executive officer for Ausdance Victoria at the end of Janaury, she was surprised to learn that Danceweek had been a regular fixture for so long. She figured that if she didn't know about it, even though she had worked in the arts for 15 years, neither would many others.
So for the first time Danceweek, which starts tomorrow, will feature a program of outdoor performances in the central business district to take dance to the people. This will include performances on the Parliament House train station platform, the steps of Parliament House, the Victorian Arts Centre and the Rialto's viewing platform.
Godde said the program was intended to not only raise public awareness of Ausdance, but to let people know how intrinsic dance is in Melbourne's culture.
Planning is already under way for next year, she says, which will celebrate Ausdance's 21st birthday.
"The future of this organisation, as far as I'm concerned, is to respond to the fact that we have a very positive critical mass now in this state for dance-making, dance awareness and the use of dance as a communicator." - Jim Schembri
© 1997 The Age