CDCWA Appoints Aaron Beach As Executive Director

CDCWA Interim LogoThe Contemporary Dance Company of Western Australia (CDCWA) today announced the appointment of Aaron Beach as Executive Director.

The CDCWA is a vibrant, new contemporary dance company. Its launch is set to reposition contemporary dance in Western Australia and heralds an exciting new phase of dance for the state.

Wendy Wise, Chair of the CDCWA, said, “Mr Beach has an excellent record of arts leadership and securing funding, attracting new audiences and managing international tours. I am delighted that he will be joining the CDCWA as it becomes a leading Australian contemporary dance brand.”

Mr Beach will be responsible for the CDCWA’s business development and day-to-day operations, including the effective implementation of the company’s strategy, leadership of its employees, financial management and the development of long-term funding partnerships. As the company curates, commissions and creates world-class works, he will also oversee the company’s programs to attract and retain audiences, dancers and teachers.

“Mr Beach’s selection complements perfectly our recent appointment of Raewyn Hill as the company’s first Artistic Director. He will establish operations to support the CDCWA’s world-class professional ensemble and the company’s development program that engages and inspires young artists and the wider community,” continued Ms Wise.

Before joining the CDCWA, Mr Beach was General Manager at the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), where he oversaw the company’s work to integrate professional theatre practice with supportive youth theatre process. In this role, he contributed to positioning ATYP as one of the leading fundraising ‘small-to-medium’ arts companies in Australia.

Before that, he spent five years as Business & Operations Manager at the Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australia’s leading Indigenous performing arts organisation. Between 2003 and 2006, he was also Production Manager at the Barking Gecko Theatre Company, the AWESOME International Arts Festival and the Australian National Playwrights’ Conference.

Mr Beach has an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts (Stage Management) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). In 2001, he was awarded the Arts WA Young People and the Arts Professional Development Fellowship. He has previously held board and committee positions with the Performing Arts Centre Inc (Blue Room), the Black Swan’s Be-active BSX Theatre, National Youth Week, the WA Youth Arts Network and Youth Performing Arts Australia.