In Adelaide today, Isobel Redmond, Patron of Move Through Life unveiled the Deborah Searle Scholarship Program. The inaugural scholarship program is worth $4,200 with two scholarships on offer – one for a beginner dancer and one for an advanced dancer.
The Deborah Searle Scholarships offers the opportunity to learn from dance professionals who have enjoyed international performing careers for adults who have a passion for dance and aspire to dance throughout their lives. The program has been named after Deborah Searle, a founding dancer and choreographer of MTL, in recognition of the contribution she has made to MTL. Deborah who is now the Managing Editor of Dance Informa, Australia’s largest dance magazine (www.danceinforma.com) says, “I am honoured to support the MTL scholarship program. MTL provides such a unique outlet for adult dancers to continue to train, perform and enjoy dance at a high level. I am so proud to have been a founding dancer of such a vital company.”
Over a 12 month period, the scholarship recipients will receive training in ballet, contemporary and jazz. The recipient of the advanced scholarship will also have the opportunity to join the MTL performing company, and be part of its next major production, set to premiere at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and follow in the mode of MTL’s 2009 sell‐out production Black Coffee.
MTL is committed to a socially inclusive, culturally diverse and gender diverse community, and as such will particularly welcome applications from people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent and other cultural background, those experiencing financial hardship and male dancers.
Speaking in Adelaide today, Artistic Director Jo McDonald explained the rationale behind the scholarships. “As people grow older, they often give away things they were passionate about in their youth. There are many reasons, but financial commitment is a barrier, particularly once people start having children. We hope these scholarships will give two people the chance to pursue their dreams and see dance bloom into a vital and inspiring part of their lives.”
Move Through Life has a vision to inspire and enable adults to dance so they are physically, creatively, mentally and socially active throughout their lives.
Full details of the scholarships and an application form are available from www.movethroughlife.org.au/scholarship.htm. Applications close 6 June 2013.
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