2016 Grey Panthers

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Tracks Dance Studio, Frog Hollow Centre for the Arts, Darwin City

Throughout year, 2016

Over 60's Dance Troupe and Classes

Tracks believes in dance as a whole of life activity. The Grey Panthers dancing troupe for the over 60's is a prime example of this.

Creative Personnel

Program Leaders: David McMicken, and Kelly Beneforti
Guest tutors: Bryn Wackett, Gary Lang, Lizzi Webb.
Choreographers: David McMicken, Kelly Beneforti, and Darryl Butler

Program Leaders

David McMicken and Kelly Beneforti.

This year the Grey Panthers have been quite active. One of the members, Darryl Butler, did the Choreographic Development Course - (DIRT!) for the second time and brought Carmel Alderson into his new work. He also choreographed a new work for the group - Alley Cat. As part of a fundraising event at the Deckchair Cinema, showing Strictly Ballroom, the group held a cake stall, raising a tidy sum. May was a busy month. They were the first of our group to learn the Big Dance choreography by Akram Khan, and then performed it for the media launch of Seabreeze festival at the Nightcliff Foreshore Cafe. They then performed their Abba Medley and the Big dance at the Seabreeze Festival on the dance stage, Nightcliff foreshore, and assisted in a large public Big Dance Workshop. They then performed Physical and Ballin' the Jack for the Greek community's Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser in support of the Cancer Council. In June the group presented at the Council Of The Aging (COTA) Seniors' Expo performing Ballin the Jack, Physical, Sweet November and Big Dance, and running a Big Dance public workshop.

July was a sad time as we farewelled Kay Brown, the longest current serving Grey Panther, as she left with family for a new life in Queensland. Her singing, dancing, and acting will be greatly missed.

As always, August was a busy month with Seniors month events. Performing for the Annual Palmerston Seniors' Luncheon the ensemble performed a revised version of the Latin Medley choreographed Jess Devereux, and Sway originally choreographed by Julia Quinn. Then off to Batchelor for the Coomalie Region's Council of the Aging Seniors luncheon: performing Sway, Latin Medley, Big Dance and premiering Darryl Butler's new work Alley Cat. The group also took a community warm-up workshop and taught some repertoire for the Batchelor Seniors to join in with. To finish the year the group performed Alley Cat (Darryl Butler), and You Make Me Feel so Young (David McMicken) at the Annual Firies Pensioners Christmas Party.

Tracks and the Grey Panthers farewell a most beautiful soul, Punny Vegter, who sadly passed away in December. She was greatly loved and will be sadly missed.

Grey Panthers 2016

Antonietta Vanzella, Barry Thomson, Carmel Alderson, Darryl Butler, Diane Lucas, Dianne Mount, Ellen Hankin, Francisca Kleinebeck, Gwen Varney, Helen Haritos, Jan Hastings, Janine Sutter, Jenni Sanderson, Jo Parish, Jospehine Brine, Judith Allen, Judy Markwell, Judy Mckerr, Kay Brown, Linda Mansour, Lillian Mann, Liz Gammon, Marg Lee, Marge Duminski, Maria Vlastuin, MaryAnn Hinton, Mavis Waddell, Patricia O'Neill, Shirley Somers, Toni Vine-Bromley, Val Hristova.

Government Partners

Tracks Inc is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body; and is proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government.

Tracks 2016

Artistic Co-Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
General Manager: Agnès Michelet
Administrator: Clancy Breasley
Production Manager: Mathew McHugh
Dance Animateur: Kelly Beneforti
Bookkeeper: Noya Chong Wah

Committee Members: Mary Durack (Chairperson), Glenn Bernardin (Treasurer), Michael Grant, David Taylor, Ken Conway, Stephanie Cvirn, Venaska Cheliah. David McMicken, Tim Newth, Agnès Michelet (Ex-Officio Members)

Public Fund Trustees: Rev. Steve Orme, Dr Anita Toth, Ippei Okazaki

Patron: His Honour, The Honourable John Hardy OAM, Administrator of the Northern Territory