2003 Grey Panthers | Tracks Dance

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Tracks Dance Studio, Frog Hollow Centre for the Arts, Darwin City

Throughout year, 2003

2003 saw the Grey Panthers finding a permanent home in the newly created Tracks Dance Studio at Frog Hollow Centre for the Arts. Tracks also employed Julia Quinn as the Dance Animateur, whose job it was to enthuse, animate and up-skill the dance community. She took on the teaching of the weekly class and the women appreciated her fresh approach to movement. The Grey Panthers wowed Darwin audiences with their performance of A Bowls Club Wedding, presented for the Darwin Festival and Seniors Month. This new work grew from the rivalry that was already in the group, with many of the women being Lawn Bowlers, and coming from different clubs in Darwin and Palmerston.

The women also performed their cheer-leading routine (created for the Arafura Games Opening Ceremony, but not performed due to its cancellation), and 'History Repeating' with guest dancer Trevor Patrick (Fierce) for Tracks’ celebration Local.

The women also had a special done by the ABC television for the George Negus show – Health Dimensions

Smaller events the Grey Panthers performed at were: Palmerston University of the Third Age, the Launch
of a Portrait of a Senior Territorian, Seniors Week, Darwin Festival Media Launch, and Darwin Festival Club Night.

Creative Team

Program Leaders: David McMicken, Merrilee Mills, and Julia Quinn
Guest Tutors: Tim Newth, Gail Evans
Choreographers: Sarah Calver, David McMicken, Paia Ingram

Creative Personnel

David McMicken, Julia Quinn and Merrilee Mills,
Guest Artists: Tim Newth, Gail Evans and Yoris Wilson
Choreographers: David McMicken, and Julia Quinn

Participants

Lucy Aylett, Kath Baldwin, Betty Ballinger, Barby Barclay, Kay Brown, Adie Bruce, Bette Chapman, Val Clark, Dotty Daby, Beryl Darben, Diane Dibbins, Nora Francis, Liz Gammon, Margaret Glowacki, Audrey Gorring, Jan Hastings, Kathleen Harding, Val Hayes, Crena Hemmings, Anong Hill, Bobbie Johnstone, Elaine Marlow, Lois Penman, Greta Quong, Shirley Somers, Audrey Svara, Punny Vegter, Mavis Waddell and Jacquie Williams

Tracks 2003

Artistic Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
General Manager: Suzanne Fermanis
Dance Animateur: Julia Quinn
Book-keeper: Heather Richards
Publicist: Sue Camilleri
Office Administrators: Heather Richards (Jan - Feb), Janice McEwan (March - April), Rukshana Ramachandran (June - August), Jolene Mooney (September -December)

Committee Members: Jackie Wurm (Chair), David Taylor (Vice-Chair), Glenn Bernardin (Treasurer), Kyleigh Hindson (Secretary/Public Officer), Ken Conway, Donna Quong, Jill MacAndrew, Kay Brown (Ordinary Committee Members), David McMicken and Tim Newth (Ex-Officio Members)

Photos

front row l-r Berryl Darbin, Barby Barclay, Lois Penman, Julia Quinn, Margaret Glowacki, Val Clark, Kathleen Harding, Jacquie Williams second row l-r Jan Hastings, Greta Quong, Diane Dibbins (behind,) Audrey Gorring, Liz Gammon (behind), David McMicken, Adie Bruce, Kay Brown, Punny Vegter, Mavis Waddell, Shiela Hensby, Betty Ballinger, Bobbie Johnston (Behind), ? (Behind, TIm Newth (Behind), Kath Baldwin, Betty Chapman (Behind) Suzanne Fermanis, Elaine Marlow. Christmas Party. Photographer Tim Newth

David McMicken, Gad Morris. Local and Life Members Launch

l-r Glad Morris, Sarah Calver, Ken Conway, Myra Nungarrayi Herbert, David Taylor, Glenn Bernardin. Local and Life Members Launch

standing l-r Yoris Wilson, Gail Evans sitting l-r Margaret Glowacki, Audrey Gorring, Shirley Somers. Bowls Club Wedding Rehearsal - Photographer David McMicken

l-r Crena Hemmings (photographing), Kay Brown, Jacquie Williams, Margaret Glowacki, Greta Quong, Shirley Somers, Audrey Gorring (Bride), Jan Hastings (pill box hat) Betty Ballinger, Val Clark, Bette Chapman, Barby Barclay. Bowls Club Wedding Rehearsal - Photographer David McMicken

l-r Kevin Gould, Audrey Gorring. Bowls Club Wedding Rehearsal - Photographer David McMicken

l-r Jan Hastings, Val Clark, Betty Ballinger, Kay Brown, Adie Bruce. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Jan Hastings, Lois Penman, Bette Chapman, Kay Brown crouching front Barby Barclay. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Crena Hemmings, Jacquie Williams, Kevin Gould. Bowls Club Wedding

sitting in back l-r Glad Morris, Lucy Aylett front l-r Audrey Gorring, Shirley Somers, Barby Barclay, Jan Hastings. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r (back) Jacquie Williams, Crena Hemmings?, Greta Quong, Berryl Darbin, Margaret Glowacki, Kevin Gould. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Jan Hastings, Val Clark, Shirley Somers. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Kay Brown, Jacquie Williams, Barby Barclay. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Shirley Somers, Audrey Gorring, Betty Ballinger, Yoris Wilson. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r foreground Margaret Glowacki, Shirley Somers kneeling Val Clark bac sitting l-r Lois Penman, Jan Hastings, Adie Bruce, Betty Ballinger, Greta Quong, Elaine Marlow, Barby Barclay standing Yoris Wilson. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Byron Low, Shirley Somers, Marco Taopo. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Berryl Darbin and audience memebr, Audrey Gorring, Byron Low. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Yoris Wilson, Kay Brown. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Barby Barclay, Kay Brown. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Kevin Gould, Audrey Gorring. Bowls Club Wedding

l-r Crena Hemmings, Elaine Marlow, Kevin Gould, Audrey Gorring, Kay Brown, Adie Bruce. Bowls Club Wedding - Poster shot - photographer Mark Marcellis

Photo shoot for ABC. Arafura Games rehearsal

Videos

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Responses

“However, it was the contrast, between young and old - dance of the past and dance of present - that gave A Bowls Club Wedding its edge of distinction.” Joanna Barrkman - Real Time Magazine

“A myth busting collective of 20-or-so singing, dancing and acting seniors - delighting and outraging audiences for more than 15 years.” Sunday Territorian

"This year I began working with the Grey Panthers and I have to say that I think it is one of the best things I have ever done. These women are amazing and I sometimes think I learn more from them than they do from me! My teaching has been challenged in the way that I think about the human body and its capabilities – teaching the Grey Panthers has increased my awareness of our unique tool as dancers. So I find that my teaching in other contexts is much more thorough and sensitive. I am very keen to continue working with these wonderful, energetic ladies as it gives me much personal satisfaction." Julia Quinn