The Australian dance landscape will be watching with interest following the announcement that Louise Bezzina will step down as Artistic Director of Brisbane Festival after the 2025 event. Her six-year tenure has seen a notable commitment to presenting diverse and ambitious dance works, significantly impacting the visibility and opportunities for dance artists and companies within one of Australia's leading arts festivals.
During her time at the helm since 2019, Bezzina has been responsible for delivering the largest number of programs in the festival's history, and dance has consistently featured as a vital component of this expansion. Her programming has successfully blended critically acclaimed international productions with significant commissions and presentations of leading Australian dance talent.
A standout example of her commitment to large-scale, innovative dance was the 2023 presentation of Salamander. This ambitious dance-theatre work, a collaboration between internationally renowned creatives Maxine Doyle and Es Devlin, prominently featured Brisbane's own Australasian Dance Collective, showcasing a significant investment in bringing together global vision with local excellence.
Beyond major collaborations, Bezzina's directorship provided valuable platforms for Australian dance companies. Leading contemporary ensembles such as Dancenorth have been key participants, presenting notable works like RED, Lighting the Dark (a significant collaboration with Chris Dyke), and the impactful community dance project NOISE. These inclusions highlight a dedication to showcasing the strength and innovation of Australian choreography and performance within a major festival context.
The festival also embraced inclusivity in dance under Bezzina, programming works such as Restless Dance Theatre's Private View, demonstrating a commitment to diverse artistic practices and providing visibility for artists with disability.
Bezzina's vision also saw dance integrated into broader festival programming and community engagement. Initiatives like the popular Street Serenades and the Common People Dance Eisteddfod brought dance directly to Brisbane communities, fostering participation and celebrating local movement cultures.
Louise Bezzina's departure marks the end of a period where dance has held a prominent and dynamic position within Brisbane Festival. Her support for commissioning and presenting a wide range of dance styles and artists has undoubtedly enriched the experience for festival audiences and provided crucial opportunities for the dance sector.
As she moves to her new role as CEO and Artistic Director of Brisbane Powerhouse, her continued influence on the Queensland arts scene is anticipated, and the dance community will be keen to see how dance programming evolves under new leadership at Brisbane Festival.
Bezzina will deliver her final Brisbane Festival program from 5-27 September 2025, with the full program announcement scheduled for Wednesday 11 June. The recruitment process for the next Artistic Director is set to commence in May.