SA Dance Hub closes

The Dance Hub SA board has made the difficult decision to bring the organisation to a close.

The space for independent dance makers at Lion Arts Centre in Adelaide was initiated in 2016 as LWDance Hub by choreographer and artistic director Leigh Warren. Amanda Phillips was Associate Curator from 2017 and became Artistic Director in 2018.

In 2019 it became Dance Hub SA with Amanda Phillips continuing in her role. She has been heroically fighting breast cancer for at least a decade but stepped down from the organisation in 2023.

The same year, the organisation's application for funding was knocked back by the South Australian government and it launched a public appeal for financial support. 

Since 2018, Dance Hub SA  has engaged over 400 artists through its development programs and supported the presentation of 38 new works and over 60 creative developments. Significant opportunities initiated, facilitated and produced by Dance Hub SA during this time include Dance.Focus, X, YAP, Associate Artists, Asia-Connect, The Move, Mind the Gap, Dance Rebooted, Seed Residencies and AIR.

SA Dance Hub's closure leaves independent artists in the state with no outlet for their work.

“We recognise the impact this closure has on the dance community in South Australia,” the board said in its announcement. “Many will be aware of the significant challenges facing the organisation since 2022. Although we have had recent project grant success it is not sustainable for us to continue without organisational funding or premises.”

The board has applauded and thanked those who contributed to SA Dance Hub over the years: For the full statement, see the website here.