June 17, 18, 19
2022
Where?
Forge Theatre & Arts Hub
80 McKean Street, Bairnsdale
Victoria 3909
ENTRIES OPEN
Entries open on the following dates
Troupe entries: Wednesday 27th April
All other sections: Sunday 1st May.
Once we are full, we are full. Every year we have local dancers try and enter late – this year we will have no ability to exercise discretion, so please ensure your dancers take advantage of their advance entry opportunity.
Come and watch
Spectator Entry Costs
Session Pass: Adult $5 / Concession $2
Weekend Pass: Adult $35 / Concession $15
Adjudicator - Debbie Keenan
Debbie Keenan is originally from New Zealand and moved to Melbourne, Australia to further her dance training in 2011 where she completed 2 years full-time dance training. Debbie flourished in the Melbourne dance industry both as a performer and teacher. She made the move to Sydney at the start of 2020 to further and expand her knowledge and experiences.
Debbie has worked across a multitude of mediums with artists and organizations both locally and internationally. Her credits include working as a dancer for the global brand SOL REPUBLIC, performing in video clips for OKENYO, Dustin Tebbutt and choreographing for EMBER. She has also taught internationally in New Zealand, Hamburg, Germany and for The Artist League dance camp in Dehli, India.
Debbie was a dancer in Lion Heart Dance Company for 5 years. She performed in the company’s inaugural work, Table of Eight. She maintained a deep connection, training, performing and choreographing on the company. Debbie performed and choreographed her first full-length work, Your Story as part of Lion Heart Dance Company’s season of Still Frame. She also performed in the company’s latest show CLASH at Chapel off Chapel in September 2019.
Debbie strives to continue sharing and passing on the knowledge she has gained in all her experiences to all students she crosses paths with.
Genres
As a guide to assist choreographers, we have obtained and will rely on genre descriptions from Karen Malek.
Each adjudicator has their own opinion & outlook on each style and therefore may alter their decision of placing.
Contemporary
The contemporary genre has evolved over the last 100 years and there are certain styles of contemporary that teachers can research such as Cunningham.
The choreography will depend on the choreographer’s intent and purpose. It could include the use of motif and great use of the space. On the other hand the choreographer’s intent maybe to use only minimal space to explore the music via movement and this is also a valid work.
The use of technique should/could include use of centre, off centre, falling, running, suspension, articulation of spine and limbs, release of the whole spine when hanging over, use of safety foot getting in and out of the floor, range of levels including floor work.
The choreography should not include typical steps from other genre such as classical ballet, jazz, acro etc.
Classical
This genre has been in existence for 100’s of years and has a specific range of steps and technique. Short tutu’s are generally worn and is often stated in the rules and conditions that short tutu’s should be worn. If this rule is not listed students should be permitted to perform even if they choose to wear a romantic tutu – a longer version with the net skirt finishing at calf length.
Solos should be choreographed with the age and stage of development of the children in mind to ensure suitable and strengthening ground work is included to lay the foundation for more difficult steps in the higher age groups.
Lyrical/Neo-Classical
Closely linked to classical ballet, this genre is a section where emotion and expression is closely linked to the performance and particularly the music. Music may be instrumental or with lyrics. Good flow and continuity through the music is expected together with great control of adagio type movements.
Hip Hop
Up to the minute street dance including various levels of style such as tutting, b-boy/b-girl, krump.
Jazz
This genre is decades old and includes various styles through the ages such as Charleston, can can, broadway or more modern styles.
The style continually evolves and there are many jazz syllabi in existence for teachers to access if unsure of this genre. Music and choreography should be suitable for the ages. Up tempo can be from moderate tempo to brisk tempo.
Energy and attack should be maintained with good strength seen in arms.
Use of style, levels and space is expected.
Slower version of jazz with slow tempo of music.
Should still maintain good levels of energy and style.
Movements should be controlled and good use of expression to match the quality of music is expected.
Tap
There are often several sections of various tap in competitions.
Straight which is a solo that is a performance that is not usually either waltz, slow or fast/speed.
Waltz tap has a time signature of 3/4 and should be lyrical and include waltz rhythms; Slow is a dance to slow music and should contain controlled movements with good use of the whole body; Fast/Speed is uptempo and contains steps, combinations and elements that are continual – this section should see very little stop/start elements – it should be continuous with the chosen speed maintained; Tacit/Stop Time – a section that is without music – important for students to maintain even timing and rhythm.
Demi-Character
From the classical ballet genre, a demi character is a dance portraying a character requiring classical technique via classical ballet steps and acting a role with facial expression, gestures and other acting skills.