The Australian Choreographic Centre Inc
School in Canberra

In 1995, the Board decided that there was insufficient financial and audience encourage for a lasting dance company in Canberra.The Board then conducted an exhaustive process of consultation, including both local and national dance and arts communities, to determine a way forward. This identified a need for a fresh approach to choreographic development. Choreographers and dancers faced a crisis in career pathways, with many insignificant dance companies closing, annual employment in maximum existing companies being replaced by runofproject contracts, and the number of independent projects being significantly reduced. The environments where choreographers had traditionally been nurtured and developed almost vanished, seriously threatening the growth of the next generation of dance makers. We sought to pack this niche, both for the ACT community and for the profession. We evaluated some overseas developments, in notable a French system, where the government took on board the triumph of actor centers which solved same problems for the theater community a decade before. centers Chorgraphique National were developed, providing infrastructure for a key choreographer while also supporting a number of emerging choreographers and assisting visiting artists in creating, presenting and touring new work. The Choreographic center was established in Canberra with much of this in mind, but was designed to be a more inclusive and originate structure where individuality was supported and encouraged and the artistic vision embraced a wide range of styles and traditions. It was for 11 years a leader in supporting the development of the art, craft and science of choreography enhancing the contribution which dance makes to cultural life. Through a nationally competitive program of fellowships, residencies and commissions plus educational, advocacy and scientific research activities, it became a center for the development of choreographers, choreographic practice, and new choreographic works led by visionary Artistic Director Mark Gordon. Over the life of The Australian Choreographic center, our major goals and strategies proved to be crucial for the dance profession. We contributed to the development of over 70 choreographers, some of who have gone on to become artists of renown. We developed our commissions program to bear multiple entry points at different levels of aptitude and experience. In 2007, succeeding changes in the funding landscape, the Board of the center took the decision to refocus the organization as QL2 center for Youth Dance Inc, later simplifying the name to QL2 Dance Inc. With Artistic Director Ruth Osborne at the helm, it has since developed a national and international reputation in contemporary youth dance practice and many alumni are practicing dance artists. It is auditioned each year, originate to both dancers in our training programs and those training in physical disciplines elsewhere.