Brisbane Prix makes a big return

 

After a two year Covid enforced hiatus, the Brisbane International Contemporary Dance Prix is back. A packed week from September 26 of classes and coaching, from some of the best national and international contemporary dance identities, was held at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts (JWCCA) for 90 young dancers aged 15 to 22. It culminated in an exciting, ticketed, finals program on the Saturday afternoon.

 Founder and Artistic Director Louise Deleur was originally inspired to create this program for young contemporary dancers, on the realisation that there was little on offer for them in comparison with the multiple networking opportunities for ballet dancers, as at the Prix du Lausanne. “Presently these dancers have very few pathways or opportunities that lead or connect into the professional contemporary dance world,” she said at the time.

 Therefore, Deleur was thrilled to be able to present the third Contemporary Dance Prix this year, after such a challenging period for the performing arts. And, in a week-long immersion program, to once again, facilitate the connection of young dancers with leading directors and choreographers of contemporary dance.

 Audition applications for the Prix opened on June 1 with participants announced on July 24. There were both Junior and Senior sections (15-17 and 18-22 years respectively). It’s not free. There’s a $55 application fee and, on acceptance, a participation fee of $650.

 But it is money well spent for the dancers. From Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm, three programs of classes ran simultaneously, covering ballet, contemporary, improvisation, solo creation and repertoire coaching. In an impressive line-up of industry professionals, the nine coaches were Kim McCarthy, Lonii Garnons-Williams, Harrison Elliott, Amelia Waller, Juliet Burnett, Grant Aris, Riannon McLean, Yolande Brown and Laura Hidalgo.

 Separate junior and senior classes held on the Friday, followed by two ticketed performance sessions, decided the finalists who then performed on the Saturday. The panel of adjudicators had been watching proceedings throughout the week, and were looking for specific qualities in the dancers, not all related to performance. These included courage, tenacity and attitude to succeed in the professional dance world, as well of course as artistry, musicality, creativity and technical facility.

 And it is certainly not a case of winner takes all, unlike other eisteddfod-styled competitions. This year 86 offers were made, many to dancers who had not made the finals. The five panellists, all representing contemporary dance companies or schools were Jason Beechey (Rector of the Palucca University of Dance, Dresden), Katie Rudd (NZ Dance Company), Juliette Barton (Sydney Dance Company), Darren Ellis (Rambert School), and Adriaan Luteijn (Introdans). Offers ranged from invitations to audition for summer schools to company secondments.

 Nevertheless, with support from sponsors, there are also generous cash prizes for junior and senior winners of $5000 and $10,000 respectively. The runners-up are also rewarded with prizes of $2000 and $3000. (For all prize winners and finalists https://www.facebook.com/bicdprix/)

 The Brisbane Prix, as it is now commonly called, is unique in offering gifted young contemporary dancers a platform to network and present their skills to leading contemporary directors and choreographers as they seek to gain a foothold in the dance profession. As with other ballet focussed prix, this is an enriching and inspirational week for them, and as evidence of this program’s success, three professional contacts have already been awarded to dancers who participated in previous years.

 Deleur should be congratulated for her tenacity in not only bringing the Brisbane Prix to life, but for working to ensure the program has longevity. The Prix’s mission is to cement its reputation as a significant event on the international dance calendar; to bring the contemporary dance world together, “engaging internationally acclaimed directors and professional artists to educate and develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of contemporary dance". It’s an ambitious mission, but the program’s winning formula should, with continued support, put Brisbane on the contemporary dance map.

–         DENISE RICHARDSON

Editor's note: The main scholarship winners were:

Senior: Alex MacNab (1st $10,000); Sam Osborn (runner-up $5000)

Junior: Ciara Connolly (1st $5000); Sophia Brewerton (runner-up $2000)