Through LINK Dance Company newly graduated dancers gain professional experience, while additionally furthering their individual research interests. New works are commissioned for LINK Dance Company by highly regarded Australian and international choreographers, with some works also restaged by seminal artists. Each year a new company is formed which performs and tours locally, interstate and overseas. Acceptance to LINK is by competitive audition. All company members will be graduates from a three year pre-professional training programme: either a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) or an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts, or equivalent. The highly specialized LINK experience culminates in either a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) Honours in Contemporary Dance, for dancers who have previously completed a degree; or the LINK year allows Advanced Diploma graduates to upgrade their qualifications to a Bachelor of Arts (Performing Arts) – Link Dance Company.
Artistic Director, Michael Whaites (2006-present) leads the company which has access to the superb physical and faculty resources at WAAPA, including rehearsal space, theatres, designers, set and costume construction and production staff. LINK Dance Company closely replicates the range of activities experienced in a small contemporary company. Dancers attend daily company class, rehearsals, fulfil production responsibilities and negotiate funding issues to facilitate the annual European tour.
In addition to experiencing the “simulated workplace”, company members explore a research topic of their choice leading to a thesis. LINK dancers therefore gain both a transitional professional year and a further academic qualification. Previous LINK dancers have undertaken research on topics as varied as dance film-making, choreography, performance management and injury prevention.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
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Michael Whaites returned to Australia in 1999 after an impressive international career including working with choreographers Twyla Tharp and Pina Bausch. After pursuing work as an independent choreographer and dance artist in Sydney, he moved to Perth to join the WAAPA dance faculty. As artistic director, he organizes the company, including interstate and international tours, while continuing to choreograph for LINK and WAAPA undergraduate dance seasons. Michael has described his creative process as highly shaped intuition where being receptive to the input of his dancers is essential to his dance making. His current WAAPA teaching responsibilities include classes in contemporary technique, composition and improvisation. |
