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abigail sebaly

Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar

I visited Melbourne and was struck by the city's exceptional level of support for the arts and, especially the creative environments for modern art emerging among major institutions and smaller independent entities alike. I left Australia inspired to find a way to return for an extended period of time, as a dancer and choreographer.

Abigail Sebaly, University of Michigan graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) and a Bachelor of Arts (English), has won a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship from the Australian-American Fulbright Commission and will undertake 12 months of collaborative choreographic engagement in Melbourne from July 2008.

Abigail, currently the Director of Special Projects with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in New York, will engage in an advanced study of choreography at the Victorian College of the Arts’s (VCA) School of Dance and Centre for Ideas. As well, she will participate in a professional mentorship at the Melbourne International Arts Festival (MIAF) with Artistic Director Kristy Edmunds.

“The opportunity to study and develop my choreographic works in Melbourne will provide me with a unique opportunity to learn more about the mechanics of arts programming that is required to promote the public acceptance of modern dance and related arts in contemporary life.”

“I will portion my time between the VCA's School of Dance and Centre for Ideas and the Melbourne International Arts Festival. Based on the strong foundations of my undergraduate dance degree, VCA Dance has given me permission to participate in choreography classes and I will also participate in seminars and lectures to complement my choreographic studies at the Centre for Ideas.”

“The overall structure of the project will allow me to take maximum advantage of Melbourne's unique and extensive educational and cultural offerings. I am keen to develop my choreographic voice in an environment that maintains a balance among the practical, intellectual, and collaborative levels of creativity required for significant choreographic work.

Abigail’s study will culminate in the form of a performance presentation at VCA, including a written component. She is an accomplished performer and choreographer, with performances at the Merce Cunningham Studio (2008 and 2006), the DUMBO Dance Festival (2005-06), the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2003) and the Bates Dance Festival (2001). She received the University of Michigan School of Music Earl V. Moore Award in 2003 and was a James B. Angell Scholar for 8-terms (1999-2003).