2010 Grey Panthers | Tracks Dance

Text

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

Throughout year, 2010

Over 60's Dance Troupe and Classes

Two major performance seasons kept many of the Grey Panthers on their toes in 2010. The women once again joined with writer and director, Merrilee Mills, to present Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge, a combined project of Corrugated Iron Youth Arts, Alzheimer’s NT and Lynx Project. A group of women also performed in Allure of Paradise, in a work by Indigenous choreographer Gary Lang. The piece was about his homecoming to look after his Grandmother before she passed away.

Having two animateurs working with the women meant lots of performance opportunities. Added to the mix was guest Emma Porteus, Artistic Director of Tasmania’s Stompin Youth Dance Company, creating a new work to 'Dream a Little Dream of Me'.

One-Off performances included: The Ausdance Expo, Seabreeze Festival, International Women’s Day – Tribute to Territory Women, Palmerston Festival, Darwin Show, Palmerston University of the Third Age (U3A), Probus Function, Quota Performance, Relay for Life, Dinner and Show - Darwin Ballet School, Firies’ - Pensioner Christmas Party.

Creative Personnel

Program Leaders: Julia Quinn, David McMicken, and JessDevereux
Guest Tutors: Gary Lang, and Emma Porteus
Choreographers: Julia Quinn and David McMicken, and Jess Devereux

Participants

Carmel Alderson, Judith Allen, Lucy Aylett, Kay Brown, Bette Chapman, Patricia Doyle, Marge Duminski, Liz Gammon,  Ellen Hankin, Kathleen Harding, Jan Hastings, Val Hristova, Marg Lee, Janis Lewis, Lillian Mann, Judy Markwell, Elaine Marlow, Judy McKerr, Dianne Mount, Patricia O’Neill, Judi Samuels, Shirley Somers, Janine Sutter, Antonietta Vanzella, Gwen Varney, Punny Vegter, Maria Vlastuin, Mavis Waddell, and Joan Worth

Tracks 2010

Artistic Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
General Manager: Fiona Carter
Dance Animateurs: Julia Quinn, Jess Devereux
Administrator: Gail Evans
Production Manager: Kelly Blumberg
Bookkeeper: Julie Ann Stark
Development Consultant: Suzanne Fermanis
Milpirri Executive Officer: Susan Congreve

Committee Members: (Chair) David Taylor, (Vice-Chair) Jill MacAndrew, (Treasurer) Glenn Bernardin, (Secretary/Public Officer) Michael Grant, (Ordinary Committee Members) Ken Conway, Nick Papandonakis, Joanna Barrkman, Stephanie Cvirn, (Ex-Officio Members) David McMicken and Tim Newth

Public Fund Trustees: Rev. Steve Orme, Dr Anita Toth, Paul Wan

Patron: His Honour Mr Tom Pauling QC, Administrator of the Northern Territory and Mrs Tessa Pauling

Photos

l-r Gwen Varney, Val Hristova, Jan Hastings, Mavis Waddell, Maria Vlastuin, Carmel Alderson

l-r Judith Allen, Gwen Varney, Antonietta Vanzella, Shirley Somers, Val Hristova

l-r Gwen Varney, Shirley Somers, Judith Allen, Maria Vlastuin, Punny Vegter, Mavis Waddell, Janine Sutter

l-r Mavis Waddell, Kathleen Harding, Maria Vlastuin, Carmel Alderson, Bette Chapman, Ellen Hankin, Shirley Somers, Judith Allen, Judy McKerr, Punny Vegter, Diane Dibbins

Kathleen Harding. Allure of Paradise, Photographer Peter Eve

l-r Ellen Hankin, Kay Brown. Allure of Paradise, Photographer Peter Eve

l-r Dianne Mount, Judi Samuels, Kathleen Harding, Ellen Hankin, Kay Brown, Tara Robertson, Shirley Somers, Joan Worth, Marg Lee, Patricia O'Neill. Allure of Paradise, Photographer Peter Eve

Kay Brown. Allure of Paradise, Photographer Peter Eve

l-r Dianne Mount, Judi Samuels, Janine Sutter, Mavis Waddell, Maria Vlastuin, Ellen Hankin, Kay Brown, Val Hristova, Pat O'Neil. Allure of Paradise, Photographer Peter Eve

l-r Ellen Hankin, Darren Edwards, Kay Brown, Shirley Somers, Dianne Mount. Photographer Peter Eve

l-r Darren Edwards, Tara Robertson, Kay Brown. Photographer Peter Eve

Videos

Explore Further

Older Adults Home Page

Participation Projects

Responses

“There’s a beautiful sensitivity to this production. And there’s no doubt it will stand as an enduring testament to why people come to the Territory and how they become Territorians.” (Allure of Paradise) Daniel Bourchier NT News

"My time working alongside the Grey Panthers was refreshing, busy, hilarious and deeply satisfying. I came into the role as their teacher after the GP's had been working with Merrilee Mills and previous to that their longstanding co-founder, Sarah Calver.

I had seen their work and been impressed with the energy, enthusiasm, youthfulness and sheer joy the ladies displayed, so I was a little apprehensive about whether I could maintain that journey for them or be as inspiring as the other artists who had worked with them.
As I began work with them, our first project being the Opening Ceremony for the Arafura Games (2003), my concerns faded and we blasted and grooved our way through. I began teaching their weekly classes then as well and continued until 2010, 7 years of laughs, tears, many, many local gigs, Tracks shows and other projects, significant birthdays, illnesses, deaths, great tenderness, love and general mayhem and madness, with the off-shoot for me personally, was many friendships and that all 3 of my children were born and raised into a massive, loving family and had the enviable record of the 'most grannies 'in the world!

Hip hip hooray to the Grey Panthers for their decades of knowledge, wisdom and cheekiness. What a special bunch of women, past and present, who will always be special in my heart and a sweet, sweet memory." Julia Quinn