1996 Grey Panthers
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Brown's Mart Community Arts, Darwin City
Throughout the year, 1996
This year was to be a year of touring Healthy Wealthy and Wise but this was postponed due to only partial funding being secured. Instead it was a year of skills development with guest Merrilee Mills for singing, Betchay Mondragon teaching Filipino cultural dancing, and Karen Sassella working on writing. Maintaining their visibility in the community in 1996, the Grey Panthers performed at 10 different events including: Bodies of Water (where they performed the premier of Esther Who), International Women’s Day, Anti Cancer Foundation, and University of the Third Age (U3A), the Evergreens, Tracey Village, and Harry Chan Home.
Creative Team
Program Leaders: Sarah Calver, with David McMicken
Guest Tutors: Merrilee Mills (music) and Betchay Mondragon
Choreographers: Sarah Calver, David McMicken
Program Leaders
Sarah Calver and David McMicken
Guest Artists: Merrilee Mills (music) and Betchay Mondragon
Participants
Inger Andersson, Kath Baldwin, Kay Brown, Adie Bruce, Jo Davis, Audrey Gorring, Glad Morris, Greta Quong, Hanna Stamm, Audrey Svara, and Mavis Waddell
Tracks Dance 1996
Co-Artistic Directors: Sarah Calver, David McMicken, Tim Newth
Administrator: Liann Stevenson
[Under Brown's Mart Community Arts – Executive Officer Ken Conway]
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Responses
“The effervescent Grey Panthers have enriched the lives of not only artists who have worked with them but also the Darwin Community. This troupe of ladies decided to continue with regular weekly workshops once The 1988 Dance On Darwin Project was completed. As the key artist that had the opportunity to work with this group from 1988-1999 my memories of this troupe are triggered with many smiles and many heartfelt moments. The pioneers of the Grey Panthers taught me about the joys of life as older women in our community and together we shared many genres of dancing – always striving to have fun and to challenge the stereotypical views of the elderly in our community. My two most amazing times with this significant group of women were: the birth of my daughter, Tessa, who immediately had lots of dancing Darwin grannies who were a part of our lives; to our tour to Alice Springs for the Women’s Health Festival. Their zest for life, their wicked sense of humor and their friendship over the years has enriched me not only as a woman but as a Territory dance practitioner. Over the years the faces of the Grey Panthers may have changed but their philosophy and love for dance continues - long live the Grey Panthers.” Sarah Calver