Bundanon

The Australian Ballet is Australia’s national ballet company, performing works from the classical repertoire as well as contemporary works and commissions. Founded in 1962, The Australian Ballet is one of the country’s flagship arts companies, and for nearly five decades has been the defining face of ballet in Australia.

The Australian Ballet Dance Education Ensemble is invited into residence by Bundanon Trust to deliver dance education programs to regional primary school children. The program is designed to engage and appeal to all children regardless of their previous background in dance. The children participate in a dance/movement workshop and a complementary art workshop with Bundanon’s art educators as well as a performance of The Sleeping Beauty, where the ensemble demonstrate and discuss a range of dance techniques including classical ballet and students engage in kinetic and rhythmic exercises.

IN RESIDENCE 2017

During their 2017 residency, the ensemble, together with Bundanon’s education team provided a free program of dance workshops, art workshops and a performance to primary schools in the region. Participating ensemble members for 2017 are Robyn Begg, Yhale Fien, Timothy Szczepkowski-Collins and Chantelle van der Hoek.

IN RESIDENCE 2016

Bundanon hosted The Australian Ballet Dance Education Ensemble as Artists in Residence again in 2016. During their residency, the ensemble, together with Bundanon’s education team provided a free program of dance workshops, art workshops and a performance to primary schools in the region. Participating ensemble members for 2016 are Jasmin Dwyer, Jack Gibbs, Timothy Szczepkowki-Collins and Chantelle van der Hoek.

IN RESIDENCE 2015

Bundanon once again hosted the Out There Australian Ballet Dance Ensemble in late August and September. The program of workshops and performances was successfully delivered, reaching over 1,000 primary children in the region. The ensemble members were delighted that students were engaged in the workshops and discussion, demonstration forums, moving, expressing ideas through movement and, learning about different types of dance. Ensemble members were David Bremmer, Jasmin Dwyer, David James and Chantelle van de Hoek.

IN RESIDENCE 2014

In late August and early September 2014 the members of The Australian Ballet’s Dance Education Ensemble were in residence at Bundanon to present a series of workshops and performances alongside Bundanon’s education team. Led by The Australian Ballet’s Director of Education Helen Cameron and Dance Education Ensemble Manager Hayley Arundel, David Bremner, Lily Spencer and Brooke Tytherleigh inspired local school children with the joy of movement and dance. Over 1,000 students from regional schools enjoyed this experience.

IN RESIDENCE 2013

Bundanon offered this outstanding movement and kinetic literacy program to primary schools students in the Shoalhaven during late August and early September 2013. The program designed for students in the middle- upper primary aged-group, led by The Australian Ballet’s Director of Education Helen Cameron and Dance Education Ensemble Leader Fi Koski with ensemble members Alistair Stewart, Paris Hodson and Kristopher Yates engaged and appealed to the children regardless of their previous background in dance.

IN RESIDENCE 2012

Together with Bundanon’s education team, the Ensemble took their program to 4 regional schools in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven. The program was also conducted on site at Bundanon in the Dorothy Porter Studio. Ensemble members Alexander McKinnon, Hannah Beer and Abigail Oliviero together with dancer Eric Avery inspired hundreds of local school children.

IN RESIDENCE 2011

Bundanon hosted a successful Out There with The Australian Ballet program during late August and early September 2011. This program was supported by Arts NSW ConnectEd ACCESS funding and Stuarts Coaches Transport sponsorship. During the 2011 program, Two groups of up to 30 children in each school participated in both the movement and visual arts workshops. A number of younger children experienced a classroom visit by the Dance Education Ensemble. A larger group of students from grades three and above participated in the Talking Doing Dancers demonstration and presentation. The visual art workshop experienced by the school children involved the design and production of a theatre stage for a dance production based on one of the four seasons. The children used cardboard sculpture, collage and cut outs and drawing to create their concept. The children were able to relate their art workshop and their movement workshop exploring cross-curriculum links. Ensemble members: Alexander McKinnnon, Patrick Meessmann, Hannah Beer, Polly Hilton.

IN RESIDENCE 2010

Bundanon was Out There with The Australian Ballet in schools during the first two weeks of September 2010 when it brought this nationally recognised education program to over 1100 school children in the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands. The talented members of the Education Ensemble from The Australian Ballet engaged over 1200 primary school students in a rich kinetic literacy and movement workshop program. Education Consultant Helen Cameron conducted professional development for 50 University of Wollongong Grad. Dip Ed. students and lecturers in the Dorothy Porter Studio at Bundanon. Ensemble members: Adrianne Semmens, Chloe Smith, Dylan Tate, Simone Pulga

IN RESIDENCE 2009

The Australian Ballet and Bundanon Trust conducted an extremely successful Out There with The Australian Ballet in schools program in the Shoalhaven area during early September 2009. Out There was developed by Helen Cameron, the recipient of the 2008 Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education. Artistic personnel including, Adrian Burnett (teacher, choreographer), Paula Baird-Colt (producer and body conditioning specialist) and Robert Curran (Principal Artist and choreographer) have provided input that has captured the imagination of both the male and female participants. Ensemble members: Adrianne Semmens, April Rose Ferris, Dylan Tate, Simone Pulga.