Since my experience of ‘great dancing’ is limited to awkward hipster clubs with ironic dance moves made with the support of several dozen beers under the belt, I sometimes forget that the art of dance is a true skill, and the best dancers do it without liquid courage. Remember the ballet? Yeah, that still happens, and it’s still beautiful, leaving you with that ‘oh-my-god-I-will-never-be-half-that-graceful-ever’ feeling as you leave the venue (even though Black Swan did shatter any dreams I’d ever had of being a ballet dancer). Remember swing? That still happens, too, and it’s not limited to rockabillies or your grandparents. Contemporary? Yep, that’s happening as well, and while some would try to justify their late-night-boogying-down-to-Lady-Gaga as ‘contemporary’, it’s not. How does one refine their taste in rhythmic movement, then?
Go to the 2011 Australian Dance Awards. Recognising and honouring the best and most outstanding contributions to dance, the Australian Dance Awards are now in its 14th year, celebrating a small, but growing community. There are showcases by some of the country’s leading dance groups, too. Expand your dance peripheral outside of the dark and dirty dancefloor, teach the hipsters something new next time you go out.