New Artistic Director outlines exciting new direction for Tasdance

Tasdance’s new artistic director, Felicity Bott, commenced in the role late in 2015 and is now poised, ready to launch a new era for the company. The months ahead will be a busy and exciting time for Tasdance, as Felicity delivers their upcoming season evolve : revolve, a new experimental piece for Dark Mofo, and pilots a new education programme, Flash Card Dance.

Felicity is excited about being in dance at this point in history. She says “The 21st century has ushered in a wide range of technologies and networking practices that contemporary dance artists have only just begun to explore. What really excites me about this is that the possibilities for connecting artists and audiences are front-and-centre in the making of much public performance these days”.

“Tasdance will be a vital conduit for these connections in coming years and a vibrant portal for the production and delivery of new work for our state: taking brave new works out and bringing brave new works in, engaging and thrilling audiences every step of the way.”

“evolve : revolve and Hal’cyon are two prime examples of this potent dance exchange, they ensure that Tasmanian cultural values are broadcast within and beyond the island, whilst also bringing others’ perspectives and artistry to Tasmania.”

evolve : revolve features two new works by important Australian choreographers and clearly marks the beginning of a significant new ‘spin of the wheel’ for Tasdance. Felicity considers that this exciting season was perfectly themed by the former director Annie Grieg before her departure late in 2015; “the evolve : revolve main stage seasons in both Launceston and Hobart take Tasdance’s commitment to contemporary dance excellence forward, respecting the history of Tasdance and evolving it into the present.” she says.

Hal’cyon is Tasdance’s first appearance in Dark Mofo. The work itself is a new direction for Tasdance, something Felicity brings from her own practice, but she is excited to embrace Tasdance history within the work. Maggie James, a former dancer, educator, and Tasdance Chairperson, is the subject of the visual imagery of the piece. Felicity says, Maggie’s presence at the inception of this work helps ground it to the history and culture of Tasdance.”

Another priority for Felicity is continuing Tasdance’s 35-year commitment to dance education. “Tasdance was founded on valuing and developing expert knowledge about ways in which children and young people learn about dance aesthetics and participate in physical expression and I intend for Tasdance to continue to be a national leader in this field.”

Mid-2016 will see the pilot of Flash Card Dance, a multi-year proposal that weaves a dynamic performance research thread through dance education practice. Modeled on traditional scholastic ‘flash cards’, this simple education resource is about ‘dance + reading’ with the word ‘reading’ being applied equally to literacy and interpretation. The cards are designed as an integrated set of visual stimuli with words, graphics and drawings. For 2016, the drawings have been commissioned from internationally celebrated Australian dance artist Antony Hamilton.

“My mother and her parents were teachers and it is in my blood want to know how best to trigger the imaginations of children and young people. Through Flash Card Dance, Tasdance will continue to be a part of making art that is connected to students’ lives. Building their skills and capacity is the only, only way forward to futures of sustained wellbeing. Education about dance resonates throughout the whole of a students’ education, building physical and creative confidence.”

ABOUT FELICITY BOTT

Felicity Bott has dedicated almost 30 years to flinging her body and imagination around; as a director and programmer of works in professional and community settings; as a freelance choreographer; and a dance educator of students ranging from pre-school age through to tertiary students majoring in dance. She has a degree in English and Anthropology from the University of WA. Following four years at the helm of of STEPS Youth Dance Company 2000–2003, Felicity was the Artistic Director of Buzz Dance Theatre from late 2003 to mid 2009. Several national nominations and awards including a Helpmann award and an Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education evidence her art and advocacy. Felicity is a 2007/8 Churchill Fellow and in 2009 was the recipient of the prestigious Department of Culture and the Arts’ Creative Development Fellowship in Western Australia. 2013 – 2015, Felicity was appointed to the role of Director of Ausdance WA, a peak body providing leadership, support and advocacy for all forms of dance in Western Australia. In January 2015, Felicity was selected for the Australia Council for the Arts’ Emerging Leaders Development Program in Sydney. She is profiled in both editions of Rachel Power’s Creativity & Motherhood: The Divided Heart, a series of interviews with successful female artist-mothers (2008 & 2015).
Felicity is available for interview or photo opportunities on request. Images can also be provided. Contact Jane Forrest on 0439 862 363 or gm@tasdance.com.au for further information.

ABOUT TASDANCE
Since 1981, Tasdance has embedded professional contemporary dance excellence in the cultural life of Tasmania as art form, career pathway and accessible cultural experience. A respected regional contemporary dance company with national and international reach, Tasdance collaborates to invent dance-for-our-times and to inspire the community to participate.

DATES, PRODUCTION AND CONTACT DETAILS FOR TASDANCE’S UPCOMING SHOWS

evolve:revolve
Launceston, Earl Arts Centre,
May 26, 27, 28 – 8:00pm, May 27 – 1:00pm (schools matinee)
Bookings: www.theatrenorth.com.au or 6323 3666
Ticket Prices – Full $35, Concession $25

Hobart, Theatre Royal,
June 2, 3 – 8:00pm, June 3 – 1:00pm (schools matinee)
Bookings: www.theatreroyal.com.au or 6233 2299
Ticket prices: Full from $30, Concession $25.

www.tasdance.com.au/evolve-revolve

Hal’cyon
Odeon Theatre, Hobart
20–21 June 2016, 4.45pm–7.40am (sunset to sunrise)
www.darkmofo.net.au
www.tasdance.com.au/halcyon
TASDANCE