From 28 April to 5 May, peak body for dance in the ACT, Ausdance ACT, will be celebrating and promoting all kinds of dance during Australian Dance Week, and is proud to host the largest Dance Week program in Australia.

“If you take out walking, dance is the third most popular recreational activity in Australia and Canberra is no exception,” says Dr Cathy Adamek, Executive Director of Ausdance ACT.

“We have more dance schools and studios per capita than anywhere else in the country,” she added.

Now in its 43rd year, Australian Dance Week is an opportunity to turn the spotlight on Canberra’s local dance scene, with an extraordinary range of events.

Highlights include theAustralian Dance Week opening event on 29 April, from 6:30pm at Gorman Arts Centre, which will be officially opened by Minister for the Arts Michael Pettersson MLA.

This event will feature The Stellar Company’s ‘Stars in 3D’, an immersive dance experience  commissioned by Ausdance ACT, and featuring the Chameleon Collective with special guests Hilal Dance Australia.

“We are thrilled to be opening Australian Dance Week with Stars in 3D,” says Liz Lea, Director of The Stellar Company & Chameleon Collective.

“This project is an arts science collaboration presented by the Chameleon Collective, Canberra’s inclusive dance company,” Ms Lea added.

Other Ausdance Presents events include:

• Ausdance ACT’s annual networking Morning Tea, 30 April, for teachers and dance studio owners.
• A special dance film workshop for high school and college aged students with Peng Hsiao yin from Dancecology Taiwan, 5 May.
• Free trial and taster dance classes with various local studios, dance artists and arts centres throughout the week.
• Canberra Dance Theatre (CDT) and The Food Co-op Shop & Café ‘s, ‘Spiced Lunch’— a unique event where dance and delicious food come together.
• ‘Loitering and Leaping in the Library’, a free, fun ZEST: Dance for Wellbeing class at the National Library of Australia, for adults who want to keep their body and brain active and healthy.

Canberrans can also travel the world of exotic music and dance with Folk Dance Canberra at The Little Burley Market or take their little ones to a Blueberries toddler class or try out a commercial hip hop class with Fresh Funk Canberra.

“Our calendar is chockers with opportunities to dance all over the ACT and regions. Young, old, mixed ability, professional, pre-professional and anyone who loves to dance or has always wanted to try,” says Ms Adamek.

Visit ausdanceact.org.au for more information.