Eight new Commissions announced for the 2020 Keir Choreographic Award

Keir Choreographic Award 2018 Nana Bilus Abaffy, Post Reality Vision - photo by Zan WimberleyNow in its fourth edition, Keir Foundation, Dancehouse, Carriageworks and the Australia Council for the Arts have announced the eight artists and collectives who have been commissioned to make new works for the Keir Choreographic Award in March 2020.

The 2020 artist selection represents an outstanding mix of early-career to established practitioners, from states and cities across Australia, with diverse perspectives on and approaches to contemporary dance. Presenting work in March are: Alison Currie & David Cross, Angela Goh, Riana Head-Toussaint, Amrita Hepi, Jo Lloyd, Zachary Lopez, Lewis Major, The Farm.

The eight selected choreographers plan to explore politically and socially engaged themes from Indigenous sovereignty and Blak feminism, to Queer diasporas on colonised land, to living with a disability and life in the age of climate change.

The 2020 Keir Choreographic Award jury tasked with the responsibility of selecting the eight new commissions and to decide the recipient of the Award are: Paola Balla (Wemba Wemba and Gunditjmara, AUS); Claudia La Rocco (USA); Mette Edvardsen (NO); Serge Laurent (FR); and Takao Kawaguchi (JP).

The Australia Council for Arts, the Keir Foundation, Carriageworks and Dancehouse have confirmed their continued support for next three editions of the Keir Choreographic Award – an exciting development ensuring the longevity of this one-of-a-kind commissioning program.

In making the announcement, Keir Choreographic Award Founder Phillip Keir said: “I am thrilled that our eminent jury has assembled such an interesting group of artists for the 2020 award,” he said. “The wonderful diversity of this group of artists reflects the great strength of contemporary choreography in Australia.”

“It will be fascinating to see the outcomes of these choreographic ideas as they are worked into eight fully formed works. I am very much look forward to the presentations at Dancehouse and Carriageworks in March,” said Mr Keir.

The winner of the prestigious Award will be chosen by a jury of five internationally renowned leaders in contemporary dance and receive a cash prize of $50,000. The eight new commissions will be presented at Dancehouse, Melbourne from 3 – 7 March and four semi-finalists will be chosen by the jury to present at Carriageworks, Sydney from 12 – 14 March 2020.

The jury will announce the recipients of the 2020 Keir Choreographic Award and the $10,000 Audience Award on 14 March. For more information, visit: www.carriageworks.com.au or www.dancehouse.com.au for details.

Image: Nana Bilus Abaffy, Post Reality Vision, Keir Choreographic Award 2018 – photo by Zan Wimberley