The networking opportunities are unique, and many exciting projects have grown out of these initial meetings between the students. The festival rotates every two years, and in 2002 will coincide with the Adelaide International Festival to enable students to take master classes and attend forums with the world's leading dance companies. This is a partnership involving the University of Melbourne, the Choreographic Centre in Canberra and Ausdance. Other major research has been undertaken by choreographer Dr Cheryl Stock, head of dance at QUT, in her study of cross-cultural choreographic processes, particularly between Australia and Vietnam. Tony Geeves continues his research into injury prevention and management in the Australian dance profession, and there are many other Australian dancers and academics currently studying for higher degrees, including a high proportion of PhD candidates.
Opportunities Studying dance in the Australian tertiary environment is exciting and challenging.
There are superb learning spaces, teaching standards are high and there is an emphasis on choreographic development and cultural exchanges. Although the country is geographically and culturally diverse, there is excellent communication between course directors, and with the dance profession as a whole. Ausdance provides a unique link to advocacy processes with governments and their bureaucracies, as well as with all sectors of the Australian dance community. It also provides an information infrastructure through its professional staff, databases and publications. Students' interests are well represented by both student union activities on campus and Ausdance as the national service organisation.