The Search for Innovation

Tracks creates multiple pathways to engage with relevant Northern Territory choreographic research and development processes; in a place where dance is culturally diverse and there is no available Tertiary dance training. Predominantly studio-based choreographic laboratory work, this is a way of ensuring our cultural future by sourcing and supporting new and emerging dance artists. Broad in its reach, divergent in its content, it is a way to revitalise established dance artists and Tracks creative staff.

We take pride in working with local dance artists and continue to invest in the development and employment of the local arts industry. We believe in an intelligent, vibrant, and thriving local arts sector and want our Northern Territory dance artists to be able to give voice to our own culture. Through our Development Program we allow local dance artists to explore, dream, cultivate, test, improve, theorise, and deepen both their own and other people’s engagement with the creative dance innovator.

Choreographic Development Program (2009 - current)

The Choreographic Program provides an opportunity for emerging movement artists and dance-makers to explore the mechanics and creative scope of choreography in an in-depth and process-led environment. The program encourages participants to develop their individual artistry within the supportive framework of an established company. The program is aimed at the tertiary entrance level.

Across 10 - 14 weeks, the program is facilitated by Tracks Dance Animateurs taking participants through lively dance exploration, experimentation, and creative discussion in twice-weekly workshops, fostering more confident and articulate dance artists. The program begins with a weekend intensive,  followed by an immersive, rich, and playful environment for choreographic creativity.

Space Time Studio Residencies (2013 - current)

Dance artists keep calling for two things: a space to work, and time to experiment. In response to the ongoing challenges of the development of dance practice, we annually offer an opportunity for Northern Territory dance artists to use our dance studio, free of charge. This offer occurs over the build up and wet season, when the heat and rain can make it challenging to work in non-airconditioned spaces. The time is to work on contemporary choreographic development, either through research or development. Additionally, we host dance artists who have a connection to the company from time to time throughout the year.

SPACE TIME has 2 tiers:
Up to 40 hours for dance artists with emerging project ideas
Up to 20 hours for dance artists engaging in open research and practice exploration.

While predominantly used to experiment with new ideas, 2016/17, we have also had professional dancers utilising the residency to develop new work, for example 2014/15.

Make a Dance in a Week (2014 - current)

A program where young people are supported in the nuts and bolts of making a dance. Run over a week during the school holidays, the program is open to primary, middle and secondary school students. Guided by local choreographers the group create a work which is presented at the end of the week, often in a site-specific location.

In the first Make a Dance in a Week 2014 site-specific works were created for the Post Office. While 2017 had a stronger studio focus, and 2016 worked only with males.

Fresh Tracks (2016 - current)

Fresh Tracks presents choreographic ideas and experiments that are driven by the individual artists' curiosities, physicalities, and artistic sensibilities. Artists are encouraged to utilise the resources at Tracks to develop their practice, present original dance work, and engage in dialogue around their artistry. Artists are supported with mentorship, studio time and curated into a performance season, often presented through the Darwin Fringe Festival.

Youth Dance Leaders (2002-2007)

The first Youth Dancer Leaders program began with six young people being mentored into the company's activities. Over the following years, new youth entered into the program. They were involved in performing as part of Tracks major Darwin festival seasons, working with guest choreographers, attending the Australian Youth Dance Festival, working alongside Tracks core artists to run workshops, be they in jails, Indigneous communities, schools or with the Grey Panthers (Tracks 60+ performance troupe). To work in the Northern Territory as a dance artist you need to be robust and gutsy, and this training aims to impart this.

The program was run in 2003,  2004,  2005,  2006  and 2007.