Proudly Tasmanian, Stompin generates dance that links regional youth culture with contemporary performing arts practices. We connect 14-26 year old non-professional dancers and performers with Australia’s emerging generation of professional choreographers, directors and sound/vision artists. From the conception to the completion of a project, Stompin provides an environment to which young people (trained or untrained) can creatively and concretely contribute.
Stompin is funded by Arts Tasmania in 2010 and 2011. The company is also funded in 2010 by Tasmanian Regional Arts, Besen Family Foundation and through the Tasmanian Government Community Capacity Building Grants Program. Stompin has long standing sponsors, The Examiner and Southern Cross TV with numerous other local community business and individual support.
Stompin began in Launceston, Tasmania in 1992 with the idea that when young people collaborate with professional artists, they can create inspiring and bold new dance work. Founded by Jerril Rechter the company has shifted dance out of traditional performance venues and into extraordinary landscapes and new spaces, crossing borders of communities and culture, people and place. Luke George and Bec Reid, Stompin Alumni, led the company from 2001 – 2007 with Luke George as solo Artistic Director in 2008. Becky Hilton became Stompin’s Artistic Curator in 2009.
Stompin has presented large-scale, site-specific performances in locations as diverse as a forest, a beach, swimming pools, warehouses, a disused prison, an airline maintenance hangar, a wool store and an historic meat market. Over 19 years the company has worked with around 1000 young people and performed to over 17,000 people locally, nationally and internationally. Stompin packs a solid history of presentation including Sydney Opera House, Arts House (Melbourne), the World Islands Festival in Cheju South Korea, 10 Days on the Island (Tasmania), Next Wave (Melbourne) and Darwin (Youth Dance Festival). The Stompin studio and office space in central Launceston has a rich history as an arts space and is used by other arts groups and independents.
Our unique brand of art/youth/community is reflected in our philosophy as well as in our performance culture. Deeply connected to our state and its people, we provide a flexible company model that creates and supports thoughtful and informed young citizens as well as unforgettable performance experiences. We are dedicated to making art an essential part of young people’s lives. Stompin says art/youth/community 4 ever.
“Stompin is the reason to be here (Launceston), to get out there (the World) and to come back home again” Lily Deeth, Stompin alumnus.
Stompin develops excellent dance artists and arts-workers who contribute significantly to current Australian performance culture. We believe developing an artist is to contribute something singular to society, a gift that keeps on giving. Stompin alumni include – Stephanie Lake, Bec Reid, Kyle Kremerskothen, Adam Wheeler, Luke George, Rachael Taylor, Phillip Peck (Frog), Emma Porteus, Gemma Gray, Zac Lister, Emma Anglesey, to be continued….