Australian contemporary dance eyes center stage

MELBOURNE -- Australia's relative youth as a country, which dates only to the federation of its states and territories in 1901, might help explain its affinity with contemporary dance. Many choreographers, directors and performers seem to lean naturally toward dance forms that reflect a young and ethnically diverse nation confronting a legacy of colonization and the influence of digital media.

The result is a contemporary dance scene that is eclectic and attracts an enthusiastic and diverse audience. A 2021 report by the Australian Council for the Arts found that 29% of Australians attended live dance performances between 2019 and 2020. The most engaged audience was First Nations people, who in 2019 were almost three times more likely to attend or create dance than non-First Nations people. Contemporary dance was the most popular dance form, followed by ballet, hip hop and folk dancing.