GOING ON EXCHANGE

Nina Levy.

AS a dance journalist based in Perth, one of the world’s most isolated major cities, I’m well aware of the challenges that distance imposes on the Australian dance sector. Just getting to the national office of Dance Australia’s publisher, Yaffa Media, involves a four-hour flight and a two-to-three hour time change.

But if we’re talking geographic challenges, Australia’s are two-fold. In addition to the fact that our population is concentrated into relatively few urban centres, with massive distances between many capital cities and states, we’re also famously distant from other countries and continents.

For Australian dance companies, that means touring, whether within Australia or to other countries is a costly venture. In fact – long haul international flights aside – it could, perhaps, be argued that touring internationally is a more feasible option than touring regionally at home, simply because other countries offer much denser populations and much shorter distances between towns and cities.

Similarly, the costs involved in international companies touring Australia are significant. Consequently, in comparison to punters living in Asia, Europe and the US, Australian audiences have fewer opportunities to experience international artists. And dancers in Australian companies have fewer opportunities to experience dancing for new audiences.

International arts