It seems everyone is struggling with the fact that the end of the year is nigh….where did that last twelve months go?

We look back and forward in this Summer issue of DanceNSW.

Looking back, the sad passing of Hilary Crampton earlier in the year was a great loss to the dance community.  As Julie Dyson, Director of Ausdance said at the time “Hilary Crampton was a unique contributor to Australian dance, whose interests were very much formed by her early dance education, and by her professional relationships with many prominent Australian artists and educators. She spent most of her career in Australia, and was one of this country’s finest dance critics, writing for The Age newspaper until early this year……. She made an intelligent and generous contribution to the understanding of Australian dance through her writing and lectures, and was made an Honorary Life Member of Ausdance Victoria in 1998. Hilary was awarded the 2006 Australian Dance Award for Services to Dance for her 'extensive and rigorous engagement with local and international dance practice as a writer, teacher, administrator and tireless dance advocate over 40 years'.

As a tribute to Hilary, we have permission to publish a paper she presented at an Ausdance Conference in 2004 - Dance Rebooted: Initializing the Grid.   Redefining the Field – Expanding the Field is still a relevant perspective on the dance sector today.

Rafael Bonachela also spoke to us about the past year – and the exciting season the Sydney Dance Company has planned for 2010, including new works and tours both here an internationally of We Unfold.

Updates on what’s been happening at Campbelltown Arts Centre in the last month, together with a review of Sue Healey’s installation at the recent SEAM event run by Critical Path are included, together with details of new programs for 2010 to be presented by Critical Path.  The AusdanceNSW update includes the announcement of the 2010 Dance Residency Program.

A new masterclass in Accessible Arts, and the conference Arts Activate presents opportunities in March to find out more about people with disabilities access to the arts (specifically dance in this case).  We include an extract from a paper that will be presented by Restless Theatre’s Artistic Director, Philip Challis.

Of course, first up after Christmas – Sydney Festival, with a swathe of dance performances this year.  We take a look at Balé de Rua, Dark Matters, Tempest Without a Body – and of course, the world premier of our own Shaun Parker’s Happy as Larry.

And don’t forget to check out our ‘What’s On’ section to discover the many other dance performances featured in Sydney Festival in January.

We’d like to thank all our valuable contributors to DanceNSW over the past year, whose enthusiasm and commitment has enabled us to bring you a diverse mix of news, views and events.   We look forward to bringing you more next year!

Meanwhile, seasons greetings from everyone at AusdanceNSW, and best wishes for 2010.