Dancenorth Australia

"As the North’s premier dance company prepares to blow out 40 birthday candles, they’re first inviting everyone to the party." - Olivia Hatch, The Townsville Times

FREE DANCE CLASSES: All classes, all year, all welcome It's our gift to the Gurambilbarra (Townsville) community, as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary in 2025.

In 2025 we celebrate Dancenorth’s 40th Anniversary.   As we mark this significant milestone, we are proud to reaffirm our long-held commitment to creating a culture of consciousness through the universal language of dance.   We are grounded in our connection to the earth, sea and sky. Our roots stretch ever deeper and wider, entangled within the communities we serve.   Our hearts and minds remain open to the endless unfolding of delicate new layers as we continue a relationship with dance, cultivated by curiosity, a willingness to wander into the unknown and continually adapting amidst shifting tides.   Such was the vision upon our inception as a professional company in 1985, and so it is today.   In our 40th year, we will honour our growing community by: - Offering new and expanded opportunities for independent dance artists - Shattering barriers to movement through more dance classes and experiences in Gurambilbarra than ever before - Developing and presenting new works and embodied experiences in a celebration of presence, connection and transformation.   Join us as we revel in all that is all that has been and all that is still to come. ~ Image by Amber Haines

Applications for our 2025 Artist Residency in the Tropics (A.R.T.) are now open. We are deeply committed to helping shape the ever-changing landscape of dance in Australia and New Zealand, and look forward to welcoming new faces into our space again this year as part of our endless devotion to reciprocal creative exchange.

"Contemporary dance has brought Chris Dyke a long way. "It’s given the 33-year-old independence, a creative outlet and a deep artistic connection with those around him." - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) We are deeply proud of our good friend Chris Dyke and our shared work, 'Lighting the Dark', which premiered at Brisbane Festival in 2024. What a gift to reflect on the work with this piece by ABC News last week. We hope to share this revolutionary piece of dance with more audiences over the coming year.

Today is Giving Tuesday, a growing global campaign that seeks to harness the power of social media and the generosity of individuals to build healthier, happier communities. Dancenorth is taking part in Giving Tuesday for the first time this year. Our aim is to share the transformative power of dance with 100 people in regional communities, by providing free access to our Community Experience programs for people who would otherwise miss out.   You can help us reach our goal by making a tax-deductible donation today on this link: https://lnkd.in/gUE9Hvdb Your donations will help us to embrace the inherent inclusivity of dance and remove the cost barrier to participation, because everybody should have access to dance and the significant flow-on effects it offers.

Dancenorth Australia can continue its forward momentum with deep confidence and full hearts thanks to the significant support of the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation (TFFF), which has committed funding to support our general operations for the next nine years. With this gift, TFFF acknowledges the significant and critical value that Arts organisations bring to their communities, while highlighting the possibilities that arise when we move at the speed of trust, foster deep relationships, and embrace shared values, ethics, and approaches. The Tim Fairfax Family Foundation (TFFF) has supported Dancenorth Australia for more than 13 years. This enduring support has been a catalyst for so much of what we do, enabling us to leverage additional income streams and continue delivering impactful programs across regional Queensland and beyond. An investment in the Arts, is an investment in the social impact that flows from creative process, including: ·     Physical, mental and social wellbeing ·     Fostering creativity, collaboration and innovation ·     Building community connection and resilience ·     Giving marginalised communities a voice ·     Creating more liveable cities ·     Driving visitor economies through placemaking. There is no precedent for Arts philanthropy of this magnitude in Australia – TFFF is truly leading the way. This funding will empower Dancenorth to propel its strategic vision with uninterrupted focus, to sink into deeper connection with our communities, and to explore unknown realms as we continue to make meaningful work that resonates with diverse and inclusive audiences.   True sustainability lies in cultivating long-term relationships, deepening mutual understanding, and trusting that when support is steadfast, extraordinary outcomes can be achieved. May this bold approach serve as a beacon for other philanthropic organisations to emulate.

We would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who contributed to the creation, production, presentation of Wayfinder as our year-long National Tour has come to close. When we set out to make Wayfinder, we desired to craft a heartfelt gift for our audiences. Wayfinder is an ode to optimism, a celebration of the buoyancy of the human spirit and a conduit for restoring connection to a world that can so often feel isolating and disconnected. It has been a privilege to share this gift so broadly, and the reciprocity with which it was received has been incredibly rewarding. To know that our offering has resonated so deeply, and has had ripple effects across communities, inspires us to continue striving to connect hearts, bodies and minds through the transformative power of dance. We’ve loved sharing this journey with you, and we are eternally grateful for your generosity, enthusiasm, and unwavering support. Images by David Kelly, Pippa Samaya and Aaron Ashley

How does dance help people overcome loneliness and isolation, improve social wellbeing and boost mood? Our Teaching Artist Madaleine Armstrong and a number of our Community Experience dance participants recently spoke with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)'s Emma Jones as part of their coverage for Loneliness Awareness Week. #EndingLonelinessTogether #LonelinessAwarenessWeekAU

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 [𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘺] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘋𝘺𝘬𝘦’𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴. " A beautiful piece about 'Lighting the Dark' in ArtsHub today, perfectly timed as our Ensemble returns to the studio in preparation for the work's World Premiere at Brisbane Festival on 12-14 September. Thank you David Burton for a beautifully penned look at this important, heart-opening piece.