Tanja Liedtke
New Artistic Director for Sydney Dance Co
09 May 2007
Australian-based freelance choreographer Tanja Liedtke has been appointed Artistic Director of the Sydney Dance Company, succeeding Graeme Murphy who has held the position since 1976, in concert with his partner Janet Vernon.
German born 29 year old Tanja Liedtke began her dance and theatre studies in Madrid, and later graduated from the Ballet Rambert School before making her home in Sydney in 1996. Tanja was a member of Australian Dance Theatre for four years, touring Australia, Asia, the UK and North America. She joined Lloyd Newson's DV8 Physical Theatre in 2003, dancing throughout Europe in Newson's The Cost of Living and Just for Show.
In tandem with her career as a dancer, Tanja pursued her passion for choreography. Engagements included Australian Dance Theatre's Ignition Seasons (receiving Dance Australia Critic's Choice for most promising choreography in 1999 and 2000); Tasdance, De Anima Ballet Contemporaneo (Brazil); Akademie des Tanzes (Germany); Taipei Idea (Taiwan); and David Hughes Dance Company (Scotland).
In 2004 Tanja Liedtke created her first full-length work Twelfth Floor. Following a sellout season at The Performance Space in Sydney, the work was nominated for numerous Australian Dance Awards, receiving the 2006 award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography. Tanja Liedtke will premiere her new work Construct at the South Bank Centre, London on 11 May.
"I am absolutely ecstatic to be appointed Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company. I am thrilled at the opportunity to continue creating new dance works with Australian artists. It is a privilege to be chosen to lead Sydney Dance Company into a new era, and an honour to be the successor of Graeme Murphy: an icon of Australian dance," she said.
Following in the spirit of Sydney Dance Company's long held vision, Tanja Liedtke will create original works for the company and initiate collaborations with Australian and international artists in the fields of choreography, music and design.
Graeme Murphy said he felt "the Board had made an excellent choice. Someone on the cusp of a really interesting career - someone young, who will grow in the role in the way that I had the chance to grow in the role from a young age. What is going to emerge from this will be a new era in dance, which is as it should be. A new adventure is about to unfold".
Tanja Liedtke will formally commence her appointment on 2 October, and will program the 2008 season for the Company. Sydney Dance Company will announce its plans for the 2008 program later in the year.
Given the successful long-term partnership of Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon in guiding Sydney Dance Company artistically,
Website: http://www.sydneydancecompany.com/
