Welcome to spring

Spring is upon us at last. As we enjoy the warmer days it's that time of year where we start thinking about shedding the jumpers, coats and tracky pants, and starting to reveal our skin to the sun's warm rays. A time that many of us may think about the yearly cycle of toning up in preparation for the coming summer. I know I've come to accept the annual cycles of my body, and spring is definitely a time to get fit! And so, MTL is proud to announce it's first Get Fit For Summer program. The GFFS program, as I like to call it, is a bit of a taster of more to come from MTL, as we will also offer a Keep Your New Year's Resolution program in January and February (to help you all keep that vague NY resolution of "exercise more", and in March 2010 we will launch a broader range of classes in different styles and at different levels.

Spring is a busy time for us here at MTL as we begin our choreographic club, part of the broader MTL choreographic program that aims to enhance our capacity to develop innovative and engaging choreography, and to provide a forum where MTL choreographers can deepen their understanding, develop skills and enhance their confidence in the artforms of choreography and dance. In October, we will screen the DVD of our Fringe Festival smash Black Coffee. The DVD will also be available for purchase.

Following our AGM in August, we are pleased to announce the election of two new board members - Karen Guazzelli and Simon Robinson - and re-election of ongoing board members Kirsten Alexander, Lyn Flaherty and Jo McDonald, and to say thank you and good luck to outgoing board member Michelle Hughes and bookkeeper Leigh Hodgkiss. At the AGM we looked forward over the next three years as we launched our 2009-2012 strategic plan, and revelled in the last five years of MTL by watching a DVD created by Kirsty Duncan that showed highlights from each of our productions since we began in 2004. Yes, we are officially five years old in October, as the fifth anniversary of the premiere of eMerge marks the beginning of our sixth year).

The last week of August was a busy time at MTL, as we also participated for the first time in the Marion Learning Festival, something we plan to keep doing every year, along with the April Marion Celebrates Festival.

Read on to find out more ....

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Get Fit For Summer program
In October and November, MTL is branching out from its series of successful productions and regular company class to offer an eight week fitness course-cum-contemporary jazz class for all comers. The Get Fit For Summer dance classes are suitable for anyone with an interest in dance and aim to create a blend of workout and night out. Over eight weekly 60 minute sessions participants will get a solid, low impact course of body toning stretches and fun jazz choreography.

When:
2-3pm, Saturday afternoons from 10 October to 28 November 2009

Where:
Glengowrie Uniting Church, Cnr Beadnall Tce and Butler Crescent, Glengowrie

Cost:
$160 for eight weeks (as places are limited, we are only able to take bookings for the full eight weeks.

Bookings and payment:
Bookings are essential
Payment is required in advance
To book your place, complete a registration form (available from www.movethroughlife.org.au/gffs.htm) and return by email to info@movethroughlife.org.au or post to PO Box 875, Brighton SA 5048 and pay by cheque or online transfer

Enquiries:
Jo McDonald, mobile 0402 070 021 or email jo.mcdonald@movethroughlife.org.au

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Choreographic Club

The inaugural meeting of the MTL choreographic club will be held on Friday 25 September. The club will meeting monthly thereafter.

The club follows the model of a book club, and will be a forum for MTL's choreographers to continue to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence in the choreographic process. The group will view, discuss and analyse DVDs/videos of dance works by nationally and internationally renowned choreographers, invite Adelaide-based choreographers to speak at club meetings about their approach to choreography, and share ideas, seek advice and collaborate with other club members to develop their own choreography.

The club is part of the broader choreographic program that MTL will implement in 2010, which also includes a series of quarterly in-studio presentations of MTL work-in-progress, introductory choreographic workshops for less experienced choreographers and a choreographic commission.

If you are interested in being part of the choreographic club or would like to be invited to the in-studio showings, please email info@movethroughlife.org.au.

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Black Coffee DVD
MTL is screening the Black Coffee DVD on Friday 23 October at 7.30pm at the Glengowrie Uniting Church, Cnr Beadnall Tce and Butler Cres, Glengowrie.

DVDs will be available for purchase:
- Single DVD $45 ($40 for members)
- Double DVD $55 ($50 for members) (wide angle focus for archival purposes)

To order your DVD, download an order form from www.movethroughlife.org.au/blackcoffee.htm#dvd

Please note, the DVD is not listed as available for sale on the merchandise section of the site due to licensing restrictions.

Pre-ordered DVDs will be available for collection on 23 October at the DVD screening. Anyone ordering on the night may have to wait for their DVD to be sent to them.

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Company class
The series of guest facilitators for company class continues in September and October.

Sharon Angove will finish her series of African contemporary classes on Thursday 24 September
Effie Saloniklis will teach jazz on Thursdays in October

Thank you to Jo Nauman who stepped in at the last minute last Thursday to teach a contemporary class.

Other guest facilitators we've had over the last few months include:
- Matt Dowse, ballet (during July and August)
- Kat Lazaroff, contemporary (during June and July)
- Billie Cook, contemporary (during May)
- Gala Moody, contemporary (during April)

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MTL Board
New board members
The MTL membership elected two new board members at its AGM on Friday 28 August - Simon Robinson (treasurer) and Karen Guazzelli.

Simon is the national equipment services manager for Coca-Cola Amatil Australia, and has a background in management, operations planning, project management, sales, finance and organisational development. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management.

Karen is a senior associate at legal firm Fisher Jeffries working in litigation and insolvency. Karen holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons). She is also a dancer, training and teaching at Dance Force in Pooraka.

Retiring board member
Michelle Hughes (outgoing treasurer) retired at the AGM.
Leigh Hodgkiss, who was a board member for 2007-08 and book keeper for 2007-2009, has also resigned.

Thank you to both Michelle and Leigh who have both made significant contribution to MTL during their tenure.

Continuing board members
Kirsten Alexander, Lyn Flaherty and Jo McDonald were re-elected.
Kirsten was re-elected as chair, and is also the nominated public officer.
Jo McDonald was re-elected as secretary and is also the artistic director and general manager of MTL.
Lyn Flaherty was elected to the newly created position of deputy chair.

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Strategic Plan
MTL launched its 2009-2012 strategic plan at the August AGM. An overview of the plan is available on the website at www.movethroughlife.org.au/publications.htm. If you would like a full copy of the plan, please email info@movethroughlife.org.au.

Vision
To inspire and enable adults to sustain a love of dance throughout their lives, so they are physically, creatively, mentally and socially active.

Mission
To be the leading provider of training and performance opportunities for adult dancers in South Australia.

Values
- Active participation throughout life
- Building community via inclusion
- Inventive artistic expression
- Professionalism
- Positive lifestyle choices
- Challenging perceptions
- Goal orientation

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Marion Learning Festival
Move Through Life joined in the fun of the Marion Learning Festival for the first time this year. The learning festival happens every August at various locations around Marion, including Westfield Shopping Centre, the Marion Cultural Centre and the Kaurna Living Cultural Centre. MTL performed on the Westfield Shopping Centre stage on Sunday 30 August, held a free come'n'try workshop at Marion Cultural Centre on Friday 28 August and had an information booth in the shopping centre from Wednesday 26 to Saturday 29 August.

Thank you
City of Marion, Marion Cultural Centre and Westfield Shopping Centre for organising and hosting the festival so that groups like MTL can promote themselves in the community.

Volunteers who helped spread the word about MTL at the booth (Joel Anderson, Kirsty Duncan, Louise Durrans, Lyn Flaherty, John Herbst, Melissa Hill, Michelle Hughes, Jo McDonald, Chelsea Nickels, Marika Sutcliffe)

Dancers who demonstrated the high quality of our work during the performance (Kirsten Alexander, Catie Cullen, Kirsty Duncan, Louise Durrans, Melissa Hill, Karen Humphreys, Jo McDonald)

Louise Durrans and Melissa Hill for demonstrating during the workshop.

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MADAM article
MADAM (Musicians, Actors, Dancers and Models) is a new performing arts industry magazine which featured MTL in its second issue. The article is available for download at www.movethroughlife.org.au/reviews.htm.

Visit www.gypsylefay.com/MADAM.html to find out more about MADAM.

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Well, that's all folks. I'll let you know if anything else comes up in the near future. I hope to see you sometime soon at either an event or a performance.

Jo

Jo McDonald
Director
Move Through Life Dance Company
PO Box 875, Brighton SA 5048
ph: 0402 070 021
email: jo.mcdonald@movethroughlife.org.au
www.movethroughlife.org.au

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