Museum Dance Off 2018

Staff at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) have put on their dancing shoes and grooved to the disco beat, today revealing their Tasmanian devil-themed entry for the 2018 Museum Dance Off.

Now in its 5th year, the Dance Off is an international competition run by the popular US-based museum industry blog When You Work at a Museum, and involves museums and galleries around the world producing a music video to showcase their sites – and their dance moves.

TMAG has chosen a techno-flavoured cover version of Kylie Minogue’s hit Better The Devil You Know, performed by 90s UK pop band Steps, as their music of choice.

As befits the title of the song, the video is inspired by TMAG’s current exhibition The Remarkable Tasmanian Devil.

Staff from around the museum have taken part in the video, which was filmed in-house during lunch and morning/afternoon tea breaks, and also once TMAG was closed for the day.

Trained dancer and executive assistant to the Director, Helen Kershaw, choreographed moves for a group dance in TMAG’s Courtyard, and also performed an accomplished solo in the art galleries.

Director Janet Carding said it was wonderful to see staff from all corners of TMAG – including the Tasmanian Herbarium, Rosny Collections and Research Facility, front-of-house, administration and volunteers – getting involved.

“Taking part in the Dance Off has been a real bonding experience for everyone at TMAG, and it has been great to see staff embracing the spirit of the competition,” Janet said.

“It shows the lighter side of working at a museum, and highlights our galleries and historic buildings, as well as some of TMAG’s  behind-the-scenes areas.

“It’s also a great chance for us to showcase The Remarkable Tasmanian Devil to a national and international audience, all the while having some fun.”

The next step in the Museum Dance Off is the online voting period, during which TMAG will go up against other museums in Australia during the heats for a place in the Australian final - with the winner of the Australian final then going on to the international grand final.

Voting in TMAG's heat will take place at www.whenyouworkatamuseum.com and will be open for a 24-hour-period only, from Monday 30 April at 10:00 pm (AEST) until Tuesday 1 May at 10:00 pm (AEST).

Watch TMAG’s Museum Dance Off entry above or on YouTube, and make sure to visit www.whenyouworkatamuseum.com when voting opens on Monday 30 April!