Following a feature program at New York’s Brooklyn Academy of Music during 2001, Australian contemporary dance is to take centre stage at the upcoming Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) Market, to be held in the US city during January, and expected to attract some 3,000 professionals in the field. The Australia Council has announced the new promotion, ‘Dance Down Under’, which is designed to build on the existing overseas profile of Australian performing arts groups and independent artists, including Sydney Dance Company, Australian Dance Theatre, Balletlab, Ros Warby, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Expressions Dance Company and the Lucy Guerin Company. The program is viewed by the council’s Acting CEO, Catherine Brown-Watt, as an opportunity to capitalise on growing interest within North America in Australian contemporary dance. ‘Australian choreographers and dancers are gaining strong international recognition for their distinctive and innovative work,’ she commented. ‘By increasing awareness of the depth and diversity of export-ready Australian contemporary dance artists and companies, we hope to increase new opportunities for the future.’ Five dance ‘ambassadors’ will accompany the performance work – independent Indigenous choreographer and movement director, Raymond Blanco; Director of Cultural Pursuits Australia, Henry Boston; Director of Arts Projects Australia, Ian Scobie; ADT Artistic Director Garry Stewart, and producer Angharad Wynne-Jones – who, according to Brown-Watt, will ‘play an important role in building relationships with international dance presenters and [in] educating the US market on the diversity of Australian work.’ Other activities around APAP, which runs January 11-14, will include a reception for US delegates to be hosted by the Australian Consul-General and the Australia Council, as well as a special interest discussion panel on our nation’s dance.