Dancenorth Australia, Cnr Stanley & Walker Sts, Townsville (2026)

05/02/2026

Our Vital Dance Classes empower people affected by Parkison’s to explore movement and music in ways that are refreshing, enjoyable, stimulating and creative.

These classes are designed to stimulate memory, spatial and self-awareness, and connect people living with Parkinson’s to a supportive group of peers.

To learn more, and to register, visit https://dancenorth.com.au/events/dance-class/vital-dance-1 or contact our team on 07 4772 2549.

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Image by Amber Haines

01/02/2026

Dancenorth’s Artist Residency in the Tropics (A.R.T.) Program offers an independent dance practitioner the opportunity to live and work in the spectacular environs of Tropical North Queensland.

Artist residents are afforded time and space away from the familiarity of their usual surroundings, enabling not just space for reflection, research, and development, but entirely new experiences from which to draw creative inspiration.⁠
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Applications for the 2026 A.R.T. Program are now open, and close at midnight on Monday, 9 March 2026.⁠
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For more details, and to apply, visit https://dancenorth.com.au/for-artists/artist-residency-in-the-tropics

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Image by Amber Haines

29/01/2026

Our Contemporary Dance Classes are open to anyone keen to move in a way that feels great.

These classes invite you to explore freedom in your body, express yourself creatively, embrace community, and reconnect with the joy of dancing.

For more details, and to register, visit https://dancenorth.com.au/calendar or give us a call on 07 4772 2549.

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Images by Amber Haines

29/01/2026

Sabine Crompton-Ward and Aleeya McFadyen-Rew wearing Dancenorth archival costumes on Bindal Country (Majors Creek).

Captured by Amber Haines.

23/01/2026

We’re delighted to be easing into the new year with our full suite of community dance classes.

Our Still Dancing classes are designed for those who enjoy moving at a gentler pace — ideal for older movers or anyone after a soft return back to dance.

These social and uplifting classes support balance, coordination, memory, flexibility and strength, boost mood, inspire creativity, build community, and help keep bodies moving happily for years to come.

For more information, and to register for classes, visit https://dancenorth.com.au/events/dance-class/still-dancing or contact our team on 07 4772 2549.

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Image by Amber Haines

19/12/2025

Our final instalment reflecting on 40 years of Dancenorth.

As the 2020s opened with COVID-19 lockdowns and widespread isolation, Dancenorth responded by widening its reach and deepening its connections. Under the continued leadership of Kyle Page, Hillary Coyne and Amber Haines, the Company has developed works and experiences that connect people back to their bodies, to nature, and each other.

In ‘NOISE’, the Ensemble performed to the explosive rhythms of 100 community drummers; ‘Dungarri Nya Nya Ngarri Bi Nya’ and ‘Bambarra-ma Dariburu’ celebrated collaboration, reconciliation and local First Nations artists and culture; ‘RED’ halted audiences with its urgent meditation on the planet’s future; ‘Wayfinder’ reminded us of the beauty and joy in life; ‘STILL’ grounded us in the present moment; ‘Lighting the Dark’ showed us that we’re all in this together; and ‘A Live Moment’ was a wildly joyous celebration of the Company’s 40th Anniversary.

A 2021 IMPACT Award recognised Dungarri’s significance in elevating First Nations stories, fostering social cohesion, and strengthening North Queensland's identity. A second IMPACT Award was received for the 2024 National Tour of Wayfinder for its landmark achievement in scale, ambition and community connection.

Strengthened sustainability came with 2021’s induction to the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework, and in 2025 as the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation extended its ongoing support to the Company in the form of an unprecedented nine-year general operating grant earlier this year.

Dancenorth has remained committed to breaking down barriers to dance, offering free workshops and experiences to thousands of people in regional Queensland and across the country each year. In 2025, we built on this commitment by making all our community classes free: a gift in celebration of our 40th Anniversary and an affirmation that dance belongs to everyone.

In 2025, we honour those who paved the way, we are mindful of our own impermanence at the helm, and are committed to easing the path for those who will come next.

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Images by Amber Haines, Aaron Ashley, David Kelly, Pippa Samaya

Featured performers: Marlo Benjamin, Sabine Crompton-Ward, Chris D**e, Nelson Earl, Aurelia Gallardo, Costa Hagiaglou, Tiana Lung, William Koiki Mabo, Damian Meredith, Darci O’Rourke, Jasper Page, Kyle Page, Peggy Robertson, Ashley Saltner Jnr, Tara Samaya, Felix Sampson, Niharika Senapati, Michael Smith, Safety Net Dancers, Judy Taylor and Wulgurukaba Walkabouts Dancers.

More detailed captions in the Comments section.

19/12/2025

Zane Saunders returned to Dancenorth this year for his ninth residency, once again transforming our theatre into a place of reflection and reverence with his visually stunning blend of ‘Artistic Movement’ and immersive installation.

Dancenorth is pleased to support Zane's artistic enquiry in partnership with QPAC and the Regional Arts Services Network - RASN QLD

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Footage: Zane Saunders’ 2025 residency at Dancenorth Australia.

Filmed and edited by

16/12/2025

Reflecting on 40 years of Dancenorth.

The 2010s was a decade of powerful collaborations, expansion and momentum.

Under the artistic leadership of Raewyn Hill (2010-14) and Kyle Page & Amber Haines (2015-current); management of Jo Fisher (2007-10), Peter Helft (2011-12), Trevor Keeling (2012-15), Deanna Smart (2015-18), and executive direction of Hillary Coyne (2018-current), Dancenorth became recognised as one of Australia’s leading performing arts companies.

Dynamic, virtuosic and thought-provoking, Raewyn’s works explored a broad spectrum of provocations. ‘Art v Sport’ delved into the unexpected intersections of dance and football, ‘Allegories’ reflected the human struggle for survival, and the rise and dissolution of communities under extraordinary circumstances came under the microscope in ‘Mass’.

Thoughtfully conceived, adventurous and innovative, Kyle and Amber’s ‘Syncing Feeling’, ‘Spectra’, and ‘Dust’ wove movement, light, and sound into resonant worlds that echo our shared interconnectedness, universality, and the nature of reality.

Collaborations with some of Australia’s leading contemporary dance-makers played a vital role in expanding and energising the Australian dance landscape.

Over the decade, Dancenorth received several accolades including the 2017 Sydney Myer Performing Arts Group Award; Gideon Obarzarnek and Lucy Guerin’s ‘Attractor’ received two Helpmann Awards, a Greenroom Award and an Australian Dance Award; and ‘If_Was_’ by Stephanie Lake and Ross McCormack secured a second Greenroom Award for the Company.

In 2025, we celebrate four decades of Dancenorth, and honour the artists, staff, audiences, and communities who have moved and evolved alongside us since 1985.

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Images by Bottlebrush Studio, Jacqui Ferry, Ken Sparrow, Jenni Large, Ashley McLellan, Gregory Lorenzutti, Pippa Samaya and Amber Haines.

For further credits, please see the comments section below.

04/12/2025

Reflecting on 40 years of Dancenorth.

In the early 2000s, Dancenorth expanded its local, national and international reach, strengthening collaborative partnerships and shaping a distinctive reputation for innovative, immersive and boundary-pushing contemporary dance.

Under Artistic Directors Jane Pirani (1997–2005) and Gavin Webber (2005–2008), and General Managers Henry Laska (2000–2004), Trevor Keeling (2005–2006) and Jo Fisher (2007–2010), the Company created works that reimagined classics and challenged social and artistic conventions.

Jane, inspired by her love of ballet, art, music, history and storytelling, drew on personal experiences to create works such as ‘Carmen’, ‘The Dancer and the Dance’ and ‘Intimate Strangers’ - poignant explorations of femininity, human psyche, relationships, life and death. Gavin, known for bold, athletic and explosive dance-theatre, reimagined how audiences connected with the Company by fusing music, film, lighting, theatre and dance into works like ‘lawn’ and ‘roadkill’ - darkly comic stories of alienation and horror.

Over the decade, new works emerged through rich collaborations with leading choreographers and organisations including Meryl Tankard, Antony Hamilton, Natalie Weir, Michelle Ryan, Ross McCormack, Grayson Millwood (Splinter Group), Graeme Watson, Cheryl Stock, Japanese contemporary dance company Batik, and more – with several of these works touring nationally and internationally.

Dancenorth continued to deepen its community engagement, delivering workshops to regional and remote communities and nurturing emerging dancers through its youth ensemble, Extensions. Educational works such as 'Get a Life Reggie Mite' and 'Stuff' toured to North and Far North QLD, exploring themes of ethics, peer pressure and consumerism for young audiences.

The Company rebranded to dancenorth-australia in 2006 and later to Dancenorth in 2008, taking a transitional year in 2009 before resuming full operations in 2010 under Artistic Director Raewyn Hill.

In 2025, we honour all who shaped Dancenorth’s journey and carry their energy forward as we continue to move, dream, connect and create in Gurambilbarra and beyond.

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For image credits, please see the comments section below.

27/11/2025

Catch Lighting the Dark at Her Majesty's Theatre, Wadawurrung Country (Ballarat) in March 2026.

This will be the first stop on our 2026 national tour and we can not wait to share Chris D**e’s inspiring message of love, hope and connection with audiences around the country.

Tickets for our Ballarat performance are on sale now.

Find all the details and booking information via https://dancenorth.com.au/works/lighting-the-dark

More tour announcements coming soon.

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Image by Aaron Ashley

Funding Acknowledgement:
Lighting the Dark was commissioned by Brisbane Festival, and is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, and the Ian Potter Foundation.
Dancenorth Australia is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, and by Townsville City Council. Dancenorth is supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund.

27/11/2025

This October, we had the pleasure of hosting Bella Waru as part of the 2025 DETOUR interconnected dance fellowship program.

Bella Waru (Ngāti Tukorehe, Taranaki Tūturu, Celtic) is a takatāpui choreographer/dancer, musician & eternal student of the Māori healing, weaving & martial arts. Living and listening on sacred, unceded Wurundjeri lands, they are a foreign Sovereign navigating life, lore & culture from, between & towards Indigenous lands & peoples.

Bella seeks to draw connections, highlight relationality & kinship; articulating new-ancient possibilities honouring Indigenous knowledges & worldviews as means for communal wellbeing & futurity. They create stories & spaces emerging from and returning to the communities, contexts, lands & peoples who have made them who they are, with reverence and acknowledgement of those that came before them, and those that will follow after.

You can check out more of Bella’s work via

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Images by Aaron Ashley

ABOUT DETOUR:
Detour is a major opportunity, investing in two independent dance artists in 2025, to mobilise and engage in a sustained program for their personal creative development, in a spirit of reciprocity, with six Australian dance organisations.

Dance Makers Collective (Darug Country, Western Sydney, NSW), Dancenorth (Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun Country, Townsville, QLD), GUTS (Arrernte Country, Alice Springs, NT), Tasdance (Palawa Country, Launceston, TAS), Tracks (Larrakia Country, Darwin, NT) and STRUT Dance (Nyoongar Country, Perth, WA) invite two dance practitioners to spend ten weeks across Australia, in self-directed residencies, to explore their practice, connect with new landscapes and share with the communities we serve.

Detour has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.

Dancenorth Australia

05/02/2026

01/02/2026

29/01/2026

29/01/2026

23/01/2026

19/12/2025

19/12/2025

16/12/2025

04/12/2025

27/11/2025

27/11/2025

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