Dance in Canada - Then and Now

Dance in Canada - Then and Now

Massive country. Massive subject.
Where to start.

The Canada Council has started, and they've a nourishing but not very succulant read about it on their website. Check it out for historical comparisons (with advocacy appeal) here for the facts, and here for the numbers.

Something is brewing; there are changes going on that we need to be paying attention to. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for patterns, these will emerge sooner or later.

- R

New Zealand strategy for contemporary dance at the turn of the century

Here is the link to the document Moving to the Future: Creative New Zealand’s strategy for professional contemporary dance 2001-2003 (http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/files/resources/dance_strategy.pdf)

This document is outdated but still very interesting and a really useful resource to see past (and ongoing) priorities of contemporary dance in NZ at the turn of the century.

There has since been a report created about the 2006-2009 'Statement of intent' of Creative New Zealand, but it's not solely for dance. To see this statement go to http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/files/resources/dance_strategy.pdf

For other good resources see www.creativenz.govt.nz

- R

Knowing your audience in New Zealand...

Know your audience, me möhio ki tö whakaminenga: a survey of performing arts audiences, gallery visitors and readers (http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/files/resources/Audience.pdf)

Some of the findings in this report may challenge
your assumptions about arts audiences.
Other findings may reinforce what you know already
from anecdotal evidence. See what they've found out for themselves
in NZ.

How does this inform us as Canadians? Both in countless ways,
and not at all,
and everywhere in between.

What do we share with our Kiwi colleagues?
We won't find out until we start looking.

- R

A New Zealand approach to cultural diversity in dance

Experiencing diversity: a response to "Seeing Dance Trends in New Zealand" by Karen Barbour

This article raises issues of cultural diversity in contemporary dance in a responsive way (written as a response to a previous article), and flags up assumptions and challenges of articulation and intention in dance.

It goes about its business in an amorphous way, and consequently stimulates questions and triggers contemplation.

Originally published in danz, 11 on 6 November 2000.

Here's the link: http://www.danz.org.nz/sidestep.php?article_id=60&type_id=4

- R

Recent New Zealand research: attitudes, attendance and participation in the arts

Here's some interesting data collection and a solid analysis of New Zealand audiences' attitudes, attendance and participation in the arts. It's all the arts, not just dance and it doesn't really separate styles of dance. But it demonstrates what is possible in terms of research, and gives a thorough snapshot (approach with a smidgeon of incredulity and scepticism) of current New Zealand and their perception of arts.

Here's the link: New Zealanders and the arts: Attitudes, attendance and participation in 2005 (http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/files/resources/arts-survey-06.pdf)

This research was done by Creative New Zealand. If you want to see their Strategic Plan 2004-07, click on this link.

Happy reading.

- R

Great article on Cultural Diversity: Identity as a complex network

This thoughtful article, "Between Temple and Forum: South Asian Dance and the refiguring of cultural identities", is a special edition of the keynote address from the Navadisha 2000 conference, written by Ranjit Sondhi. Ranjit Sondhi originally presented this article as a keynote paper at Navadisha, a conference organized by the British organization SAMPAD, in Birmingham, UK on February 25, 2000.

Find the article at http://www.danceadvance.org/03archives/sondhi/index.html

Ranjit Sondhi is Chairman of SAMPAD; a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham, Westhill; and a Governor at the British Broadcast Corporation (BBC).

SAMPAD is a development agency for South Asian arts based in Birmingham, UK. It plays a significant role regionally, nationally and beyond, in promoting the appreciation and practice of the diverse artforms of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Navadisha 2000 ('New Directions') was a major international dance conference that took place from 24- 26 February 2000 in Birmingham and Coventry, UK. As South Asian dance in the UK continues to evolve and grow, and similarly around the world, Navadisha 2000 was envisioned as a celebration of the various South Asian dance idioms and a timely evaluation of the developments of the past 50 years.

The first conference of its type and scale to be held in the UK, Navadisha 2000 was designed to provide the opportunity to view, discuss, debate and reflect on the South Asian dance scene and programming opportunities, as well as to identify models of good practice that could be shared.

This article comes from the Dance Advance website www.danceadvance.org ... they have other great articles too... worth checking out.

- R

Scottish Audience Development Forum 2006

The Scottish Arts Council is providing a forum to talk about audience development. See below for more information.

-R

Scottish Audience Development Forum 2006

The Forum 2006 will take place on Wednesday 8 November in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Seminars

The topics for this year’s seminars have been informed by your online votes:

• E-Marketing & New Technologies
• How do I know my Audience Development is Working?
• How can Audience Development and Artistic Development Work Together?
• Planning Together: Integrating Audience Development into your Business Plan
• 'Open Space', an exploratory session

Delegates will be emailed information re booking seminar places.

Surgeries

A new addition to the Forum this year, delegates will be emailed information re booking on a first come first served basis for a limited number of short, confidential one-to-one surgeries.

Book now -http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/professional/audiences/scottishaudiencedevelopmentforum.aspx

Research on Cultural Diversity strategies from Scotland

Here's an example of research on Cultural Diversity strategies. This comes from the Scotland Arts Council, and offers interesting insights.

The Scottish Arts Council's Cultural Diversity Strategy, Cultural Diversity Strategy 2002-07 http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/resources/publications/Strategies/Pdf/STR7%20Cultural%20Diversity%20Strategy%202002-07.pdf

The Scottish Arts Council's Cultural Diversity Strategy sets out the approach towards developing and promoting creativity, the arts and other cultural activity in Scotland.

There's a lot of good learning here. Worth noting: as with all strategy, things change fast. As with all identity, it is in ongoing flux. Becoming attached to created structures or definitions is inappropriate when it comes to cultural diversity initiatives. Working the plan is good, obeying the plan is lousy. This makes me see the strategy in a different way, a more considered way.

- R

Scottish perspectives on building dance audiences

Here are links to great work that is coming out of the Scottish Arts Council, addressing their dance strategy and their dance audience research. These are very useful for Canadians, as the context they are working with is relatively similar to our current circumstances.

Listed below are the links with annotations:

Dance Strategy 2002-07
The Scottish Arts Council's Dance Strategy give the aims and objectives for the next five years to develop and support the Dance sector in Scotland.
http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/information/publications/1000312.aspx

The Profile of Dance Attenders in Scotland, Dance Audience Research: Executive Summary
Scottish Arts Council commissioned research into the Profile of Dance Attenders in Scotland. Section 1 of the final report which is the Executive Summary .
http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/information/publications/1000317.aspx

The Profile of Dance Attenders in Scotland, Dance Audience Research: Qualitative Information
Scottish Arts Council commissioned research on the Profile of Dance Attenders in Scotland. Section 3 is the Qualitative Research Report.
http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/information/publications/1000649.aspx

The Profile of Dance Attenders in Scotland, Dance Audience Research: Research Review
Scottish Arts Council commissioned research on the Profile of Dance Attenders in Scotland. Section 4 of the final Report which summarises available secondary research into audiences for dance.
http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/information/publications/dance.aspx?p=2


Briefing - Dance 2004/05

Information on the Scottish Arts Council's aims for the Dance sector in Scotland and how they are investing in Dance.
http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/information/publications/1000818.aspx

Welcome to Terminal City Dance Research

Welcome to Terminal City Dance Research.

This is coming to you from Vancouver, British Columbia.


This blog is for postings about dance research and perceived changes happening in dance studies, funding, and fluctuating trends in research.