We run auditions for participants in our Introductory and Quantum Leap projects. These are listed here.
Other projects generally have a call for proposals -- these are closed for 2010 Soft Landing 1, and the second round is open for 2010 Soft Landing 2. Proposals for Hot to Trot, On Course and other projects will be invited later in the year.
Introductory and Quantum Leap projects
You can download a version of the 2010 Classes & auditions flier here, which has the audition application form.
We are looking for energetic, physical, creative and talented young people (9–26) who want to collaborate with professional artists and other young people to create and perform new contemporary dance. You don’t have to be a highly trained dancer when you start, but you’ll join a group who work hard to make great dance, building their bodies and stretching their minds. There will be creative projects and ongoing mentoring, plus classes to develop your technique, strength and fitness.
You can join our intro programs as young as eight, audition for Quantum Leap at 15, and continue in Quantum Leap into your twenties.
You can start with QL2 by signing up for classes, or by auditioning for a major project. We select a wide range of enthusiastic, determined young people with training, experience or aptitude in movement, for example: contemporary dance, street funk, classical ballet, hip-hop, jazz dance, gymnastics, Martial arts, circus.
We welcome young people from Canberra and the region around— dancers travel from the NSW south coast, Cowra, Young, Canowindra, Blue Mountains and Sydney to participate. We also have a Visiting Dancer program for intensive visits by more experienced dancers from further afield.
We run programs for a variety of age groups from 9–26. They focus on igniting, developing and presenting young people’s creative ideas and dance skills. We are not a dance school — we focus on building a deep understanding of dance-making through hands-on projects, making new dance performance works. We run classes to build the physical and mental skills you need to do the projects.
The Chaos project: “Hard Yards” At The Yarralumla Woolshed
The 'Chaos' project is for younger and less experienced dancers (aged from 8 years), building your confidence and skills in a creative and physically challenging environment. For many, it can be a natural progression to Quantum Leap in later years. The group will include some older dancers from Quantum Leap, who help inspire and mentor younger dancers.
Hard Yards will be about work: slacking off and working hard. Why bother working hard? What happens if you don’t?
Guest choreographers Liz Lea (London) and Dean Cross will work with the group to create a dance work performed in the atmospheric Yarralumla Woolshed – a bit of the bush in the city, redolent with the sweat of hard work (and sheep!)
The performance season will be presented in October, and will be suitable for families as well as primary and secondary school students.
Application due Tuesday 3 August
No application will be accepted on the day of the audition
Audition Sunday 15 August 1–4pm
Dancers’ and parents’ meeting: Sunday 5 September 12–1pm
Sunday rehearsals 5, 12, 19 September 12–4pm
Full time intensive:
Sunday 25 September – Friday 1 October and
Tuesday 5 – Sunday 10 October 9am–2pm
Production week Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 October
Performances Friday 15 & Saturday 16 October
All participants in Hard Yards must regularly attend Junior Licence to Move, Junior Contemporary, or QL2 Company Training workshops, unless the Artistic Director has granted an exemption because you attend regular technique classes elsewhere.
The total participation cost for this project is $200. This is heavily subsidised, and includes a project T-shirt and QL2 hoodie. There is no charge to attend the audition. Bursaries are available for financial hardship.
Optionally, dancers can also buy a DVD of the work for $30, and a CD of photos for $10. (Note that no video or photography is allowed during the performances.
Quantum Leap at the Playhouse 2010: “Your time starts now”
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.
As dusk falls, dreams and fears choose their moment. Snuggled in bed or out on the town, each minute is a new world.
Choreographers Anton, Jodie Farrugia, Adam Wheeler and Larissa McGowan will work with Quantum Leap and Artistic Director Ruth Osborne over six months, developing and rehearsing this new work with the dancers. The Quantum Leapers will be joined for the last weeks by four dancers from Bangkok Dance Academy, and visiting dancers from around Australia. Video producers Bearcage Productions will design and produce a video component, and there will be an original music score.
Application due Friday 26 February
No application will be accepted on the day of the audition.
A letter with further details will be sent when you apply.
Audition Sunday 7 March 1–6pm
Dancers’ and parents’ meeting:
Sunday 21 March 10–11am
You will be selected to work in one or more intensives
All dancers are required for all Sunday rehearsals and the Assembly Intensive.
Sunday rehearsals Sunday 21, 28 March 10am–3pm
Full time intensive 1a Saturday 10 – Monday 19 April
Full time intensive 1b Friday 16 – Sunday 25 April
Sunday rehearsals Sunday 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 May,
6, 13, 20, 27 June 10am–3pm
Full time intensive 2 Saturday 3 – Monday 12 July
Assembly intensive Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 July
Production week Sunday 25 – Saturday 31 July
Sunday 9am–6pm, Monday 3–6pm, Tuesday
9–6pm, Wednesday – Friday 9am–9pm,
Saturday 12–9pm & cast party till 11pm
All participants in Your time starts now must regularly attend QL2 Company Training workshops, unless an exemption has been granted by the Artistic Director because you attend regular technique classes elsewhere. This is enforced to make sure everyone develops the necessary techniques to work safely and effectively in the project and to maintain the high standards expected of QL2 productions.
The total participation cost for this project is $300. This is heavily subsidised, and includes a project T-shirt and QL2 hoodie. There is no charge to attend the audition. Bursaries are available for financial hardship. Optionally, dancers can also buy a DVD of the work for $30. and a CD of photos for $10. (Note that no video or photography is allowed during the performances.)
Quantum Leap is our auditioned youth dance ensemble. It provides a vibrant, demanding, supportive and structured environment for young people to gain an understanding of choreographic processes, develop choreographic literacy and work together to create sophisticated productions that wrestle with big ideas. These high-quality works emerge from collaborative processes: the dancers form part of a creative team with professional choreographers, composers and filmmakers.
You become a Quantum Leaper by auditioning for a major project: in 2010, this is Your time starts now. If you get in, you commit to a timetable of classes and workshops leading to performances. This will include weekly Quantum Leap Company Training — which builds strength, stamina, flexibility, and alignment, while developing your skills.
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