OCTOBER 2018
KATE MEADE NAMED IN AFR QANTAS 100 WOMEN OF INFLUENCE THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET SCHOOL SHOWCASE
DANCEWRITER.COM.AU
CONTENTS 18 The Wonder of Coming of Age Novels
12 EXCERPT: You Had Me at Goodbye
9 AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Katherine Weiss
3 Editor's Note 7 New Releases 20 8 Young Emerging Writers This year's promising young writers are about to shine 23 INDIE INSIDER: Hidden Bookshops Hole in the wall bookshops are popping all over the Metro 30 NEW BLOOD: Christina Adams Explore Christina's world of magical realism 32 REVIEW: Flesh and Blood This year's most-awaited thriller 40 SHORT STORY: The Buried Key by Alexander Wyeth 43 POETRY: Sweet Serenity by Samantha Adams 52 COMICS CORNER: Incidental Ideas Kate Meade, 100 Women of Influence 2018 Photo by Belinda Srodder
EDITOR'S NOTE Editor Sub Editor Writers Jessica Poulter Ruth Letch Ruth Letch, Sandra Kluge, Sian Corrigan, Emma Cheeseman
Jessica Poulter Editor-in-chief Dance Writer
Dance Writer is in its ninth edition! It comes around quickly, and with such rapid growth in that time, it is important to take a moment to reflect on journey and express gratitude to everyone who has an influence on the magazine; a reader, a writer or a dancer. The October edition focuses on the idea of diet and nutrition. For dancers, having a balanced diet is imperative to an effective performance. I know that from my own experience and from listening to dancers, I hear the same thing on repeat; 'I don't have time to eat healthily'. We make time for rehearsals and sleep, so why not our health? We welcome back our contributors including Ruth Letch, who is also taking on a sub editing role, our New York City writer Sandra Kluge, Sian Corrigan, and second-time blogger Emma Cheeseman. All of these writers investigate common themes around maintaining a healthy diet and improving the general wellness of a dancer. I am currently overseas in the USA to scope out ways of expanding the dance industry in Australia. I'll let you know what trends I discover in our next issue... Dance like no one is watching. Jessica Poulter Dance Writer Founder and Editor
VDF FOUNDER KATE MEADE LISTED IN AFR 100 WOMEN OF INFLUENCE Kate Meade has had a monumental year when it comes to accolades and prestige. In 2017, she was named Ausmumpreneur of the Year for her excellence in executing the Victorian Dance Festival to be what it is today. This month alone, Ms Meade was nominated for an ACRA award alongside co-host Jon Vertigan for Best On-Air Team Country & Provincial and now named among the top 100 Women of Influence in the Australian Financial Review.
friends and share the passion for dance. “VDF has never been about celebrating great dancers,” admitted Ms Meade. “It has been about celebrating how great “I travelled to Melbourne to ask the full- dance is!” time dance studios to get involved in regional opportunities. There may have Her concern is that many dancers Ms Meade said she is blown away by the been a lot of rejections along the way, seeking a professional career in the honour of being listed with women of but we got to where we needed to be; to industry do not explore the possibilities such high calibre and intelligence. give the dance community a platform to that sit within dance, which can be turned into innovative pathways. The come together,” she admitted. advice for success is to be brave and “The difference that some women do in courageous in chasing passions and their communities is so big and to be Kate Meade describes herself as an listed among those amazing women is accidental leader. She formed VDF as just sticking to them. unreal!” another developmental opportunity for her dance students at the time, unaware “Many young dancers entering into the The Victorian Dance Festival (VDF) is the of the potential for the festival’s future industry in Australia are worried they are not going to have a professional most popular festival in the state, growth. career in dance. There are so many attracting thousands of dancers Australia-wide. Ms Meade brought to the “I never sat down and thought I’m going other areas of dance to pursue! They just need to have the courage to do so.” country some of the world’s most to be a leader in the dance industry.” influential artists to teach Her strategy behind VDF was about “If your heart is with the right intentions masterclasses, including USA’s leading keeping the intention pure; to and you aim as high as you can, the contemporary dancer Travis Wall, popular bring dancers together in a noncontemporary artist Kathryn McCormick competitive environment to make new world is your oyster.” and emerging professional dancer Tate Ms Meade’s influential in the regional space has created an abundance of performance opportunities for local young dancers.