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{{Use Australian English|date=March 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} '''Dancenorth''' is a contemporary dance company based in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. Founded as the North Queensland Ballet Company in 1969, Dancenorth performs for regional, national and international audiences. Dancenorth has presented works in over 35 International Arts Festivals and venues in Australia and the world.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3527461|title=[Dance North : programs and related material collected by the National Library of Australia]|series=Australian performing arts programs and ephemera (PROMPT) collection; Record 3527461|access-date=24 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202023358/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3527461|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rise 2023- Dancenorth|url=https://www.dancenorth.scot/watch/rise2023/&ved=2ahUKEwji55yxhuP_AhXdRPEDHV-OAvMQwqsBegQIKBAE&usg=AOvVaw2m-KV8DmhWIiV1s2H-MZht}}</ref>
==The company== Dancenorth is a nonprofit organization<ref>{{Cite web |title=DANCENORTH AUSTRALIA LTD |url=https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/2aaae623-38af-e811-a963-000d3ad24077/documents/a8dbc9ad-c0b9-ea11-a812-000d3ad1f497 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230529190523/https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/2aaae623-38af-e811-a963-000d3ad24077/documents/a8dbc9ad-c0b9-ea11-a812-000d3ad1f497 |archive-date=29 May 2023 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission }}</ref> managed by a board of directors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Board |url=https://www.dancenorth.com.au/board |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Dancenorth Australia |language=en-GB}}</ref> It is headquartered in the School of Arts building in Townsville City Centre. Its headquarters functions for Dancenorth both as a rehearsal space and as a 190-seat theatre in which performances may be held.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
==People==
===Artistic Directors=== {| class="wikitable" |+ !Years !Name |- |1985–1994 |Cheryl Stock |- |1995–1996 |Wendy Wallace |- |1997 |Graeme Watson |- |1998–2005 |Jane Pirani |- |2005–2008 |Gavin Webber |- |2010–2014 |Raewyn Hill |- |2014–present |Kyle Page |}
=== General Managers === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Years !Name |- |1985–1995 |Lorna Hempstead |- |1996–1997 |Leanne Gunnelson/Alix Rhodes |- |1997–1999 |Joanne Keune |- |2000–2004 |Henry Laska |- |2005–2006 |Trevor Keeling |- |2007–2010 |Jo Fisher |- |2011–2012 |Peter Helft |- |2012–2015 |Trevor Keeling |- |2015–2018 |Deanna Smart |- |2018–present |Hillary Coyne |}
===Dancers===
The company currently employs seven full-time dancers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Team |url=https://dancenorth.com.au/about/team |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=dancenorth.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
==History==
===North Queensland Ballet Company=== Both Ann Roberts, who is former Principle of the Ann Roberts School of Dancing, and parents in Townsville were concerned by the lack of opportunities for young ballet dancers in North Queensland. This led them to organize a public meeting that assessed public interest in forming a North Queensland ballet company.<ref name="DNA-early"> {{cite web |url=http://dancenorth.com.au/the_history/early_years.htm |title=The early years |work=dancenorth-australia official website |date=15 November 2007 |accessdate=2010-07-24 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115035349/http://dancenorth.com.au/the_history/early_years.htm |archivedate=15 November 2007}}</ref>
The North Queensland Ballet and Dance Company was established 17 July 1969. From the first audition, 41 students were accepted.<ref name="DNA-early"/>
Between 1970 and 1982, the North Queensland Ballet Company presented:<ref name="DNA-early"/> *24 original ballets created especially for the company *3 productions with excerpts from full-length ballets *3 full-length ballets re-created for the company *2 historical ballets created especially for the company *10 one-act ballets created or re-created for the company.
From 1983 to 1984, 16 new works were created for the new profession/amateur company.<ref name="DNA-pro-am"> {{cite web |url=http://dancenorth.com.au/the_history/pro-am_years.htm |title=The pro-am years |work=dancenorth-australia official website |date=15 November 2007 |accessdate=2010-07-24 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115035400/http://dancenorth.com.au/the_history/pro-am_years.htm |archivedate=15 November 2007}}</ref>
===Dance North=== In 1985 the company changed its name to ''Dance North'' becoming a contemporary dance institute with "a policy of all new Australian works",<ref name="DNA-pro"> {{cite web |url=http://dancenorth.com.au/the_history/pro_years.htm |title=The professional years |work=dancenorth-australia official website |date=15 November 2007 |accessdate=2010-07-24 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115035406/http://dancenorth.com.au/the_history/pro_years.htm |archivedate=15 November 2007}}</ref> primarily training and performing in Townsville region but touring nationally and internationally.<ref name="DNA-pro"/>
1998 saw the premiere of ''Luuli'', a collaboration between Dance North and Woomera Aboriginal Corporation which fused traditional Aboriginal dance with contemporary western dance. ''Luuli'' was watched by over 30,000 people nationally and internationally over several years.<ref name="DNA-pro"/>
===Dancenorth-Australia=== Dance North became ''dancenorth-australia'' in 2006. In 2007, it took to the streets to raise awareness of dance through their participation in local Townsville community events. On 15 February 2007, the then Governor of Queensland, Quentin Bryce AC accepted dancenorth's invitation to become the company's patron for the duration of her appointment as Governor.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
===Dancenorth=== In 2008, Dancenorth-Australia changed its name to ''Dancenorth''.
==Productions== {{Update|inaccurate=|reason=|section|date=July 2019}}
== References == {{Reflist}} {{authority control}}
Category:Townsville Category:Dance companies in Australia Category:Contemporary dance companies Category:1969 establishments in Australia Category:Companies based in Queensland