February – August:
Quantum Leap at the Playhouse 2009 “Select option”
This is the major project for our Quantum Leap ensemble for the year. After auditions for 15–26 year olds in March, it will run over 5 months culminating in a performance season at the Canberra Theatre Playhouse in July.
"There are times that are full of change — sometimes you choose, sometimes it “just happens”. Change your mind, change your look, change direction, change feet. Which box will you tick?"
Choreographers Brian Lucas (Qld), Liz Lea (London), Marko Panzic (So You Think You Can Dance) and Reed Luplau (Sydney Dance Company) will bring their highly individual styles to work with Quantum Leap and Artistic Director Ruth Osborne over six months, developing Select Option — a stunning two-act dance performance of unusual intensity and depth. Video producers Bearcage Productions will create a video set which envelops the action, and there will be an original music score by young Australian composers.
February – November:
Company training program
We offer a training program for dancers in QL2 projects, aimed at filling the gaps in their existing skills and preparing them for the requirements of the commissioned choreographers.
This includes:
- Contemporary Technique – Junior (8 to 14) and Senior (15 to 26)
- Classical Technique – basic ballet for those who have not had a high level of technique training
- Stretch and Conditioning – to build strength, flexibility and alignment.
- Licence to Move – to encourage boys into dance. Based in contemporary dance and drawing on various movement forms like martial arts, gymnastics, physical theatre and hip hop, these classes provide a masculine environment to explore dance as a creative expression. The Junior Licence to Move program (ages 8 to 14) is in weekly classes with a male teacher. The Senior Licence to Move (ages 15 to 26) will be run in 4 week blocks with special guest teachers — dates tbc.
April - May: Soft Landing 1
A unique opportunity for tertiary dance graduates to engage, collaborate and forge creative partnerships for the future.
Soft Landing is a collaborative professional development program. Independent dance artist and producer Solon Ulbrich will once again direct Soft Landing 1 for 2009. This program has been developed over several years and has supported many recent graduates during the difficult transition from the tertiary course into the dance profession.
The core of Soft Landing 1 will take place from April 14 to May 10, 2009. Artists involved in the development will undertake a full time creative process including: daily technique class; contributing to the development of a new dance performance; and mentored feedback. There will also be opportunities to engage in teaching development and associated production skills. This will be a unique opportunity to maintain and extend dance training, share knowledge and skills with interstate graduates, forge creative partnerships and launch a creative practice for the future.
August – October: “Just a stage”
For young people aged from 8 years, the 'Chaos' project each year gives access into our unique program for younger and less experienced dancers, building their confidence and skills in a creative and physically challenging environment. For many, it can be a natural progression to Quantum Leap in later years.
This year, Just a Stage will explore ideas about aging.
Guest choreographers Liz Lea (London) and Dean Cross (Legs on the Wall) will develop a new dance work about teetering on the edge of the future: ages and stages, childhood and maturity. Do you like the age you are now? Do you want to be older? What were old people like as children? What will you be like when you are old?
The performance season will be presented at the Street Theatre in October, and will be suitable for families as well as primary and secondary school students.
August – September:
Soft Landing 2
Soft Landing 2 for young dance graduates brings choreographic practice to the fore. Dates and detailsTBC.
September – Health Promotion: 'Live Ad'
Quantum Leap will create and perform a short “live advertisement”: a live dance piece, which promotes a significant health message. It will open each of the three nights of the ACT Youth Dance Festival.
September – November: Hot to Trot
Hot to Trot gives Quantum Leapers an exciting opportunity to create and refine their own short dance works, often in preparation to continuing on to tertiary dance studies. Mentored by Ruth Osborne, and with peer support, they will develop their works for a performance season in our theatre.
November – December: On Course
Designed especially for young people in tertiary dance studies interstate who have not yet graduated, this two-week program brings them back to Canberra to build and display the choreographic skills they are developing. It ends with a short performance season, bringing their new ideas to a Canberra audience.
Australian Youth Dance Festival – WA
12 Quantum Leapers will participate in the Australian Youth Dance Festival in Mandurah WA in April. They will perform and take part in workshops and forums with young dancers from around the country and from overseas.
Dance and the Child Conference – Jamaica
3 Quantum Leapers have been selected to accompany the Artistic Director to participate in the DaCi International Conference in Jamaica in August. They will choreograph a short work to be performed, as well as performing in a lecture-demonstration.
All year: Grants of space
Grants of Space are available to local and visiting professional dance artists to develop and present new works, particularly those involving QL2 dancers. We also support other local performing artists and groups with subsidised use of our theatre.
| 
