2024-VCASS-DANCE-Season24-Program-Draft2
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PERFORMANCE LENGTH | 145 MINUTES WITH A 20 MINUTE INTERVAL
MOONLIGHT SUMMER
CHOREOGRAPHY
Paul Knobloch
DANCERS
Year 10
CHOREOGRAPHY
Sela Kiek-Callan &
Joseph Newton-Keogh
DANCERS
Year 12
DREAMING TO FORGET
CHOREOGRAPHY
Rachel Rawlins
DANCERS
Years 7, 8 & 9
VIVALDI VARIATIONS
CHOREOGRAPHY
Kim Adam
DANCERS
Years 10, 11 & 12
ELTON
CHOREOGRAPHY
Tim Harbour
DANCERS
Years 11 & 12
ROMEO AND JULIET
CHOREOGRAPHY
Sela Kiek-Callan & Leana Simper
DANCERS
Years 7, 8 & 9
MOLECULAR MAGIC
CHOREOGRAPHY
Xavier Gibson, Tawhia McMath
Pearl Southgate & Alicia Wong
DANCERS
Year 12
OUT!
INTERVAL | 20 MINUTES
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
A warm welcome to our major
dance season for 2024.
We are proud to present
this uplifting program at the
iconic Malthouse, featuring
works choreographed for our
outstanding 2024 VCASS
dance cohort by artistic
visionaries of today.
It is a seminal moment in the life of every performer and
choreographer when a new work is premiered and performed.
In this program, our dancers are thrilled to present new works,
choreographed for them by leaders in the industry.
At VCASS, our vision for excellence in artistry is underpinned by our
connection to the rich artistic and collaborative culture surrounding
our school. The generosity and support of this community enables
our students to develop beyond their expectations.
Such an ambitious project as this, our Season 24, would not be
possible without vision, passion and a great deal of commitment.
Therefore, we wish to thank our Dance Team and Guest Artists, our
entire VCASS staff, and you, our parents and friends, for attending
this production and for supporting our program and the inspiring
young adults on stage.
To our VCASS students, it is a privilege to be involved in the lives of
such impressive custodians of the future. We are so proud of you.
Enjoy this special program.
Dr. Karen Schofield
ACTING PRINCIPAL
FROM THE HEAD OF DANCE
Season 24 is an exciting and ambitious
performance where our dancers move
seamlessly through jazz, ballet and
contemporary works from both
resident and guest choreographers.
Our evening begins with OUT!, a work by our exuberant Year 12s. Co-
created by Alicia Wong, Pearl Southgate, Tawhia McMath and Xavier
Gibson, this high-octane piece bursts with the passion and drive of these
students, who are eager to make their mark on the world!
Paul Knobloch returns to work magic once again. His is a shining
international journey in ballet as a dancer, teacher, repetiteur and
choreographer - beginning right here with The Australian Ballet. We
are thrilled to present his work Moonlight Summer with Janne Blanch as
rehearsal director, working with our exciting Year 10s.
Dr Sela Kiek-Callan and Leana Simper explore the world of science in
Molecular Magic. Drawing on their expertise in both contemporary and
acrobatics they provide our year 7, 8 and 9 students an opportunity to
enjoy a fusion of dance from these different genres.
We present work from one of our alumnus Joseph Newton-Keogh,
who has once again collaborated with Dr Kiek and the Year 12 dancers
to create Dreaming to Forget. After graduating from the New Zealand
School of Dance Joseph has been establishing himself in Melbourne
as an independent artist, teacher, choreographer and dancer. He is
one of numerous VCASS alumni who continue to drive the vibrant
contemporary dance scene in Australia.
As a complete contrast, our guest choreographer for Year 7, 8 and 9,
Rachel Rawlins, explores the joy and grace of ballet in Vivaldi Variations.
Since retiring as Principal Artist with The Australian Ballet, Rachel has
continued to teach and choreograph in Melbourne and we celebrate this
opportunity for our junior students to work with her, supported by Fiona
Munroe as rehearsal director.
Elton, choreographed by Kim Adam, brings us joyously to our feet before
interval. This is Kim’s first year working
with us and in a tribute to a true
artistic icon Sir Elton John, she has our
students bursting onto the stage with
the charisma and commitment to dance
we love so much.
After interval, be swept away by a
modern-day production of Romeo
and Juliet created by Tim Harbour and
supported in rehearsals by Madeleine
Eastoe. During a busy year mounting works
on Singapore Ballet, Houston Ballet and
The Australian Ballet, Tim has somehow
managed to teach and create this work on our
wonderful students.
A season of this scale is only possible with
incredible collaboration from our school and
community and we gratefully recognise the
amount of support that enables us to provide such
ambitious and rewarding opportunities for our
students.
Come celebrate, as they shine brightly in
Season 24.
Steven McTaggart
HEAD OF DANCE
MUSIC
Canned Heat by Jamiroquai
DANCERS
Year 12
CHOREOGRAPHY
Xavier Gibson, Tawhia McMath
Pearl Southgate & Alicia Wong
CHOREOGRAPHERS’ NOTE:
We are excited to celebrate the community we have created at VCASS and the
end of our journey with you. The last dance.
This is us. Incredible individuals who had the privilege of growing together,
bonded by our love of dance. We are proud to be a family that supports each
other through the highs and the lows. We have flourished.
Tonight we present our versatility with all styles of dance. We display our
talents by telling each of our stories of the last six years with these six minutes
of choreography. This is our triumph and what we have become.
OUT!
We are ready to take on the world.
Thanks VCASS, we’re Out!
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