Expressions Dance Company’s change of name an ‘evolution’

Brisbane’s Expressions Dance Company has a new name to go with its new leadership.

Australian Dance Collective artistic director Amy Hollingsworth.

Brisbane’s Expressions Dance Company has a new name to go with its new leadership. Amy Hollingsworth, who became artistic director of EDC in January, announced on Tuesday at her 2020 season launch that the 35-year-old contemporary company will be known as Australian Dance Collective.

Hollingsworth is the third artistic director in the company’s history, following Natalie Weir and founder Maggi Sietsma. The former leaders welcomed yesterday’s move, while Australian Dance Collective chairwoman Marian Gibney called the name change a “natural evolution … aligning its history and vision”.

The Expressions board raised the possibility of a name change when she started with the company, Hollingsworth says.

“We knew we wanted a name that was descriptive, not evocative,” she says. “I feel very strongly that the way we can connect to society and capture the imaginations of many people is to have a really inclusive hive of diverse artistic voices.

“I believe the strongest kind of leadership is listening to the people you work with and including them in the decision-making.”

Hollingsworth’s program next year starts with a triple bill that will be a permanent part of future programming. It will feature a local or younger artist, an established Australian dancemaker and an international work. Next year’s choreographers are Jack Lister, Melanie Lane and Hofesh Shechter.

Lister has made extremely well-received works for Queensland Ballet, where he was also a dancer. A commission from Birmingham Royal Ballet was staged in Birmingham in September and at Sadler’s Wells in London last month.

Lane scored a big success with WOOF earlier this year for Sydney Dance Company, while Shechter is one of the biggest names in international contemporary dance.

Hollingsworth continues the Chinese Australian Dance Exchange Project established by Weir. Next year Australian Dance Collective will work with Shenzhen-based Round House Dance Company. Shenzhen has been a sister city of Brisbane since 1992.

Hollingsworth is also deeply committed to the company’s Youth Ensemble, a group of 30 people aged 15 to 18. It will have a work created for it and perform a piece with the main company.

Half of Hollingsworth’s complement of six dancers will be new next year. Jake McLarnon, Bernhard Knauer and Josephine Wiese remain and will be joined by Lister, Marlo Benjamin and former Australian Dance Theatre member Lonii Garnons-Williams.

“I love gathering around me like-minded people with whom I can have robust conversations about the work we’re going to do,” Hollingsworth says. “I want a home of true collaboration that’s vibrant, welcoming and dedicated to shaping and nourishing the craft. I want us to energise each other.”