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| DANCEHOUSE (Melbourne) | |
|---|---|
| Name | DANCEHOUSE |
| Established | 1992 |
| Location | Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Type | Dance venue, performance space, arts organisation |
DANCEHOUSE (Melbourne) is a contemporary dance centre located in Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It operates as a performance venue, rehearsal space and presenting organisation connected to institutions such as the University of Melbourne, the Australian Dance Council Ausdance, and the City of Melbourne. The organisation engages with national and international companies including Bangarra Dance Theatre, Force Majeure, and Restless Dance Theatre while contributing to festivals such as Melbourne International Arts Festival, Next Wave, and MONA FOMA.
DANCEHOUSE traces roots to community arts initiatives in Carlton connected with the Victorian Arts Centre, the Australia Council for the Arts, and the National Institute of Dramatic Art amid the late 20th century funding shifts influenced by the Hawke government and cultural policy debates involving the Menzies Library and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. The organisation evolved alongside venues like Footscray Community Arts Centre, the La Mama Theatre, and the Athenaeum Theatre while collaborating with choreographers associated with the Australia Council-backed Studio Residency programs and the Victorian College of the Arts. DANCEHOUSE's development intersected with touring networks such as Arts Centre Melbourne Presents, regional circuits including Country Arts SA, and international exchanges involving the British Council and the Asia-Europe Foundation.
Housed in a heritage building proximate to the University of Melbourne and the Royal Exhibition Building, DANCEHOUSE occupies spaces reconfigured in dialogue with conservation agencies like Heritage Victoria and municipal planning frameworks administered by the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Planning Authority. Facilities include performance studios comparable to those at the Victorian College of the Arts and the Australian Ballet Centre, rehearsal rooms used by independent companies such as Chunky Move and Lucy Guerin Inc., and technical infrastructure aligned with standards from Lighting Dimensions and Stagecraft suppliers. The site’s acoustics and sprung floors reflect design practices found in venues like the Fairfax Studio and the Playhouse Theatre, while partnerships with RMIT and Swinburne University inform equipment upgrades and accessibility features consistent with Disability Standards overseen by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Programming encompasses contemporary dance seasons, curated festivals, and presentation series that align with national initiatives such as Ausdance seasons, the Melbourne Fringe Festival, and Arts House programs. DANCEHOUSE regularly presents works by companies including Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, and Queensland Ballet, and engages guest curators from institutions like Carriageworks, University of New South Wales, and the National Gallery of Victoria. It hosts community-oriented events similar to those at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, and participates in international festivals such as Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and the Venice Biennale, facilitating artist exchanges with institutions like the Goethe-Institut, Alliance Française, and the British Council.
Education programs partner with tertiary providers including the Victorian College of the Arts, Monash University, and the University of Melbourne, and with secondary initiatives like the Victorian Certificate of Education performance arts streams and local high schools. Community engagement projects draw on precedents set by Carclew, Big hART, and regional organisations such as ArtsHub and Country Arts Victoria, delivering workshops, outreach, and residency programs that involve choreographers connected to the Australian Choreographic Centre, the National Institute of Circus Arts, and First Nations organisations including the Koorie Heritage Trust. Youth development activities reference models from Next Wave and the National Performing Arts Partnerships framework, and accessibility collaborations have involved the Australian Network on Disability and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
DANCEHOUSE has presented choreographers and companies associated with national recognition such as Lucy Guerin, Rafael Bonachela, Gideon Obarzanek, Chunky Move, and Stephanie Lake, and hosted independent artists from international circles including Akram Khan Company, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, and William Forsythe affiliates. Productions staged at the venue have toured to festivals like Sydney Festival, Perth Festival, and Brisbane Festival and have been profiled in media outlets such as The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Guardian Australia. Collaborations have included Indigenous artists from Bangarra Dance Theatre and contemporary practitioners linked to the Helpmann Awards, Green Room Awards, and the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards.
Funding streams combine support from federal bodies including the Australia Council for the Arts, state agencies such as Creative Victoria, and municipal grants from the City of Melbourne, alongside philanthropic contributions from foundations like the Myer Foundation and corporate sponsorships akin to those from Telstra and BHP. Governance structures reflect board models common to Arts Centre Melbourne and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, with oversight practices informed by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and compliance frameworks paralleling those used by Museums Victoria and the National Library of Australia. Strategic partnerships leverage networks with regional presenters such as Performing Lines, the National Performing Arts Partnership, and the Australia Council’s Catalyst fund.
DANCEHOUSE and artists presented there have been associated with accolades including the Helpmann Awards, Green Room Awards, Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards, and nominations within the Australian Dance Awards and the Australia Council Fellowships. Productions have received critical recognition in outlets such as Limelight, Time Out Melbourne, and ABC Arts, and practitioners affiliated with the venue have been shortlisted for international honours at Edinburgh Festival awards and been featured in retrospectives by institutions like the National Gallery of Victoria and the State Library of Victoria.
Category:Arts organisations based in Melbourne Category:Dance venues in Australia