The finalists for the inaugural Keir Choreographic Award have been announced. The eight finalists are:
Sarah Aiken (VIC) James Batchelor (VIC) Tim Darbyshire (VIC) Matthew Day (VIC) Atlanta Eke (VIC) Shaun Gladwell (NSW) Jane McKernan (NSW) Brooke Stamp (VIC)
The Keir Choregraphic Award is a new, biennial award dedicated to the commissioning of new choreographic work and promoting innovation in contemporary dance. The award includes a cash prize of $30 000 for first place and an audience choice award of $10 000.
Award entry requirements called for professional artists with an established practice to enter by submitting a five minute video pitch with a choreographic idea of twenty minutes in duration. An international jury assessed the initial video applications and the eight selected artists will be provided with commissioning funds.
With 77 entries of a high calibre, the judges say that choosing the finalists was not easy. Melbourne judge Josephine Ridge was struck by the wealth of talent Australia has in dance today, commenting, “That so many of the submissions came from highly original and accomplished emerging artists leaves one with an enormous optimism for the future of dance in this country. Each of the commissioned artists offer a unique, bold and highly intelligent concept, all of which I look forward to seeing presented as a result of Philip Keir’s generous award.”
The award’s founder and member of the judging panel Phillip Keir is delighted with the final group of eight short-listed applicants. “The wonderful range of the short listed proposals provides great insight into the vibrant range of performance ideas available in contemporary Australia,” he remarks. “Wildly interesting conceptual ideas riffing with virtuosic dance and athletic movement. I am very much looking to the realisations of these eight great performance pieces.”
The Keir Choreographic Award is being supported and delivered jointly by Dancehouse in Melbourne and Carriageworks in Sydney. A two-week season of the commissioned works will be presented at Dancehouse in Melbourne to provide increased exposure for the artists. The jury will select four of the commissioned works to be presented at Carriageworks in Sydney for the finals.
Dancehouse season (Melbourne) 3-6 July, 10-13 July More info: here
Finals Carriageworks (Sydney) 16-19 July More info: here
Pataphysical Man by Keir Choreographic Award finalist Shaun Gladwell.
