Steps Youth Dance Company

STEPS 2007 Scholarship Update- Richard Cilli

Taipei is a big city. It’s convenient, clean, and the people are all very kind. But what I love about it most is that a love for dance is ingrained into the blood of this place.
Two and a half months into my time here at Taipei National University of the Arts, and I couldn’t imagine having a better time than I am. I’m working hard on my technique, learning new techniques, rehearsing for some great works, and making lots of friends.
The very first class on my timetable upon arriving was Chinese Opera Movement. After doing that class I had a good idea of what I could expect from my time here: to achieve some mastery over my body, to become stronger and more flexible, and to be able to adapt to lots of new styles. TNUA produces dancers with good technique, amazing flexibility, and an ability to adapt to many styles of dance. I’m taking technique classes in Ballet and Modern, plus on top of that, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Chinese Opera Movement. It’s great to be able to put so much focus in to ways of moving that your body is not used to. A typical day for me here at TNUA could begin with Tai Chi at 7:30am, with technique classes running throughout the day, and finishing with rehearsals, which can run til 9 or 10pm. Add the fact that most classes are conducted in Chinese into the equation, and you have a pretty full on day. Understandably my life doesn’t involve much else outside of dance (except for eating really good food, some sightseeing on the weekends, and dipping my toes into the phenomenal amount of shopping they have here).
Taipei has a very prolific dance scene. Most weekends involve seeing a show, or two or three, and I’ve seen some interesting stuff, as well as some big names. Akram Khan and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui have performed, as have Bill T. Jones Arnie Zane Dance Company, and Pina Bausch’s Wuppertal Dance Theatre. I’m currently half-way through seeing a Chinese Opera performance so long that it has to be performed over two nights, and next week I’ll be lucky enough to see Cloud Gate Dance Theatre perform their seminal work ‘Nine Songs.’ Back at TNUA I’m rehearsing two works by some graduates of the school, plus I’m making a work of my own while here.
I’m really getting into the thick of the semester now, and my body is doing it’s very best to hold itself up while getting fitter and more flexible. I surprise my classmates every day with the amount of Chinese that I know, and I surprise myself when suddenly a really difficult move becomes second nature. I hope that the second half of my stay proves to be just as amazing as the first half has been!

CALLING ALL DANCERS…

2008 STEPS/ArtsWA Scholarship
It’s that time of the year again, when STEPS invites members (past & present) to apply for the STEPS/ArtsWA scholarship.

$3,000, provided by ArtsWA, will be awarded to a recent or current member of STEPS Youth Dance Company to support young artists in securing an ‘extraordinary’ arts experience outside Australia’s excellent dance education environment.

Mandatory Requirements
The recipient must:
* be aged between 16 and 25 years
* have participated in a minimum of 2 STEPS projects
* not be a past recipient of the STEPS Youth Dance Scholarship

Important dates
Applications Close: 5.00pm, Friday 11 January 2008
Successful Applicant Announced: Friday 1 February 2008

For more information about the STEPS/ArtsWA Scholarship and a copy of the Application form, please contact Cassandra Lake, General Manager (08) 9226 2133 or info@stepsyouthdance.com.au

POWDERMONKEY POSTER COMPETITION - closes 20th September

STEPS & BHP Billiton Nickel West join forces to give budding young artists the opportunity to showcase their creativity by designing the poster for the October production of POWDERMONKEY - King of the Castle.
The team at STEPS Youth Dance Company and BHP Billiton Nickel West are on the search for entries that are original, memorable, convey a positive message and reflect in some way the themes of POWDERMONKEY - King of the Castle.

So unleash your creative talent and join in the excitement when STEPS Youth Dance Company comes to the Goldfields Arts Centre. You could be in the running to win some fabulous prizes:

1st prize

• Your artwork on the official poster and program
• $150 generously donated by BHP Billiton Nickel West
• A family pass* to see POWDERMONKEY - King of the Castle.

2nd prize

• A Crumpler beanbag, generously donated by Crumpler
• A family pass* to see POWDERMONKEY - King of the Castle.

* Family pass includes tickets for 2 adults and 2 children

PLUS a selection of entries will be on display at the Goldfields Arts Centre from 8th to 20th October.

The Image

The entry must be an original two dimensional image, presented as hard copy on A3 size paper (297mm x 420mm) if the image is created electronically please provide the accompanying disk as well as the hard copy. The winning design will be printed on posters and the program and exhibited along with a selection of entries at the Goldfields Arts Centre.

Entries for the POWDERMONKEY poster competition
close 5pm Thursday 20th September 2007.
So what are you waiting for there’s no time to lose!

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH BHP BILLITON NICKEL WEST

Thanks to a fantastic new partnership with BHP Billiton Nickel West, STEPS Youth Dance Company will re-create POWDERMONKEY - King of the Castle at the Goldfields Arts Centre October 19-20. This is an incredible opportunity for the young people of Kalgoorlie to collaborate with some of Perth’s most talented artists in an unforgettable dance feast.

Principal Community Advisor for BHP Billiton Nickel West, Louanne Munz has said, “Nickel West is very excited about the POWDERMONKEY project; not only are we interested in seeing how well the program will be received in Kalgoorlie by schools and community alike, but we look forward to being involved with STEPS - a professional and highly motivated company. If the project captures the energy and motivation displayed to date by STEPS, we can’t possibly lose”.

Nickel West works closely with organisations in Kalgoorlie to develop programs that specifically target young people. Projects such as ‘Tools 4 Change’ aims to make their transition from primary to high school a positive experience. Similarly, the ‘Goldfields Football Academy’ provides young indigenous men with coaching, health education and the opportunity to play football. By providing support and guidance to young people during what is often a very challenging time in their lives, these programs have had a remarkable success rate and profound effects on their participants.

These projects share similar objectives to STEPS - to provide young people with positive experiences that are fun, creative and challenging, whilst also imparting valuable life skills, such as teamwork, communication and responsibility.

STEPS is proud to receive support from BHP Billiton Nickel West - thank you for making this exciting project a reality in Kalgoorlie!