Australian Choreographic Ensemble
Encyclopedia
The Australian Choreographic Ensemble (ACE) (1992 - 1998) was an Australia
n contemporary dance
company
based in Sydney formed by Paul Mercurio
in 1992. The company's founding dancers were Mercurio, Jan Pinkerton, David Prudham, Benedict Leslie, Brett Daffy, Katherine Arnold-Lindley and Paulina Quinteros. Other dancers included Sean Dwyer and Sharon Dalla-Costa
The company toured to large cities and small regional centres in Australia (excluding Western Australia), performing in a range of indoor and outdoor venues.
While one dancer, Benedict Leslie featured in the Australian Movie, Billy's Holiday
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n contemporary dance
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
company
Dance company
A dance troupe or dance company is a group of dancers and associated personnel who work together to perform dances as a spectacle or entertainment.-Members:*Artistic Director*Choreographers*Dancers*Board of Directors*Education administrator...
based in Sydney formed by Paul Mercurio
Paul Mercurio
Paul Joseph Mercurio is an Australian actor, dancer and TV presenter. Mercurio is well-known for his lead role in Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom . His father was the character actor Gus Mercurio.- Biography :...
in 1992. The company's founding dancers were Mercurio, Jan Pinkerton, David Prudham, Benedict Leslie, Brett Daffy, Katherine Arnold-Lindley and Paulina Quinteros. Other dancers included Sean Dwyer and Sharon Dalla-Costa
The company toured to large cities and small regional centres in Australia (excluding Western Australia), performing in a range of indoor and outdoor venues.
Dance works
Dance works performed include:- Contact (1992) choreographed by Mercurio
- Waiting (1993) choreographed by Mercurio
- Dancing with I (1993) choreographed by Mercurio
- Imprint a work for 10 dancers (1993) a collaboration between Mercurio, Jan Pinkerton, Carolyn Hammer and Stephen PageStephen PageBorn in Brisbane in 1965, Stephen Page is a descendant from the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh tribe from southeast Queensland...
- In-side-out (1994) comprising two works, Norman's Siren choreographed by Jan Pinkerton and A Place to Rest Your Head choreographed by Carolyn Hammer.
Films
The company was associated with two films:- Life's Burning Desire (1992) documented the establishment of ACE and the creation of Contact as well as Mercurio's diverse theatrical career, including his work with Sydney Dance CompanySydney Dance CompanyThe Sydney Dance Company is one of Australia's most successful and well-known contemporary dance companies. The company was founded in 1969 as the dance-in-education group Ballet in a Nutshell by Suzanne Musitz , later changing its name to Athletes and Dancers, and Dance Company ...
, was documented. - Envy (1992) a short film, choreographed by Mercurio and one of the ABC-TVAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
project, Seven Deadly SinsSeven deadly sinsThe 7 Deadly Sins, also known as the Capital Vices or Cardinal Sins, is a classification of objectionable vices that have been used since early Christian times to educate and instruct followers concerning fallen humanity's tendency to sin...
.
While one dancer, Benedict Leslie featured in the Australian Movie, Billy's Holiday