WAAPA launches into 2021
The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts has released its 2021 Performance Program, with over 120 performances and concerts on offer throughout the year ahead.
The official launch, held on Thursday 28 January in the Richard Gill Auditorium at Edith Cowan University’s Mount Lawley campus, was attended by an invited audience including Mr Simon Millman MLA Member for Mount Lawley, and representatives from the WA arts, entertainment and cultural sector.
WAAPA’s Executive Dean, Professor David Shirley, said that after the challenges of last year, staff and students were looking forward to welcoming audiences back to WAAPA’s theatres and performance venues at the Mount Lawley campus, as well as to various Perth Theatre Trust venues as part of its ongoing partnership.
“We’re delighted to once again offer our supporters a year of engaging, highly accomplished and inspiring range of performances across acting, dance, music, music theatre, opera and performance making,” he said.
“This year marks Edith Cowan University’s 30th anniversary, so WAAPA is celebrating this significant milestone on Friday 30 July in a spectacular gala concert at the Perth Concert Hall. This will be a truly extraordinary showcase of the incredible talents and creativity of WAAPA’s students, staff and alumni.”
Other highlights include WAAPA’s mid-year musical, George Gershwin’s much-loved Crazy for You. This joyous song-and-dance classic will light up the stage of His Majesty’s Theatre from 11-17 June.
WAAPA’s Classical Chorale and Classical Voice students and Acting will also have exciting showcases.
As part of the Minderoo Foundation’s ongoing sponsorship of WAAPA, from 22-28 October, the Geoff Gibbs Theatre will be the venue for an international first: as two artists from Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal are joined by Australian dance legend Meryl Tankard and WAAPA’s own Michael Whaites to create a dance program that celebrates the enormous influence of German choreographer Pina Bausch on generations of dancers around the world.
WAAPA was able to hold its delayed dance graduation season from January 25 to 29 at the Geoff Gibb's Theatre, just sneaking it in before yesterday's lockdown. The gala program was a triple bill featuring the artistry and skill of Link Dance Company (WAAPA's graduate company) and 3rd year students.
Many of these students are presently dancing up a storm with Perth's contemporary company, Co3, in its Perth Festival show, Archives of Humanity.
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