Two big prizes have recognised the late Tanja Liedtke’s work, writes Louise Schwartzkoff.
There were smiles and tears at the Australian Dance Awards when two major prizes went to the late choreographer Tanja Liedtke last night.
Liedtke, 29, was killed by a garbage truck on the Pacific Highway in 2007, just weeks before she was to take over as artistic director of the Sydney Dance Company.
At the ceremony at the State Theatre, Melbourne, Liedtke’s partner Solon Ulbrich accepted on her behalf the awards for outstanding achievement in choreography and outstanding achievement in independent dance.
“It’s a moment to stand and share with everyone in the dance community,” Ulbrich says. “A big moment to acknowledge Tanja.”
Partners in work as well as life, Liedtke and Ulbrich collaborated on her last work, construct, which premiered in London just months before her death. It showed how even the most carefully built lives can fall apart.
Reviving the work for its Australian premiere after the accident was a difficult decision. Liedtke was one of the work’s dancers, as well as its choreographer, and the team watched DVDs of her performance to prepare for the return season.
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