Congratulations to Victoria Chiu (pictured) and Kristina Chan, who have been nominated jointly as Most Outstanding Dancer in 2015 by Dance Australia critic Susan Bendall. They were chosen for their performance of Do You Speak Chinese?, which is described as "remarkable, thrilling and unique". Susan Bendall is just one of the critics who have taken part in our annual survey of the best of dance for the year. Who else has been chosen? See a sneak preview of Susan's full list below and buy the February March issue of Dance Australia to find out!
Susan Bendall
(Melbourne)
Writer and reviewer for 'Dance Australia'
Highlight of the year
- Dance Massive in Melbourne.
- Genius programming of the Australian Ballet’s “20:21” triple bill. An onslaught of energy and athleticism contrasting Balanchine, Tharp and Tim Harbour.
Most significant dance event
- Dance Massive is always a treat in Melbourne and gives great exposure to local and interstate choreographers and dancers.
Most interesting Australian group or artist
- I was delighted to see Dancenorth in Melbourne this year in its first year under Kyle Page.
Most interesting overseas group or artist
- Batsheva Dance Company (Israel) at the Melbourne Festival. This was a dose of something very different from our local fare. The two programs that Batsheva brought to the Melbourne Festival (Decadance and Last Work) were stunningly, almost shockingly different from each other, and absolutely virtuosic.
Most outstanding choreography
- Do You Speak Chinese? by Victoria Chiu in collaboration with Kristina Chan. This was remarkable, thrilling and unique movement language.
Best new work
- Motion Picture by Lucy Guerin; Long Grass by Vicki Van Hout;
- Meeting by Antony Hamilton and Alisdair Macindoe;
- A Pre-Emptive Requiem For Mother Earth by Alisdair Macindoe (for Dancenorth).
All these works brought something new, exciting and inspiring to the year. They are by independent choreographers and are wildly different in tone.
Most outstanding dancer
- Victoria Chiu and Kristina Chan in Do You Speak Chinese?
Dancer to watch
- Lillian Steiner (independent) was eye-catching even among the fabulous cast of Lucy Guerin’s Motion Picture.
Boos!
- Nothing could quite beat the appalling slashing of arts funding from the Australia Council for its sheer short-sightedness and dumb philistinism. The eleventh-hour softening announced in November brings some relief but still represents a significant cut.
Encore please!
- I’m more aware than ever of the passion, enterprise and persistence of independent dancers and companies. This year I’ve been especially aware of small companies that are employing dancers: nurturing early career dancers and giving work to the more experienced. They do invaluable work in keeping the industry vibrant, making new works and often touring to places that don’t have local professional companies.