AFTER 25 years as artistic director of QL2 Dance, and a national career spanning five decades, Ruth Osborne is stepping down.

She will be replaced by Alice Lee Holland who, after an early career in Western Australia, has worked with significant Australian companies including Dancenorth Australia, Circa Contemporary Circus and Chunky Move.

Osborne’s departure is no surprise to insiders in the dance world, who have been angered and concerned by peremptory plans emanating from ArtsACT to transform the dedicated QL2 Dance areas at Gorman Arts Centre – inherited from its predecessor, the Australian Choreographic Centre – into multi-use spaces.

Acting Justice Richard Refshauge, says “Ruth Osborne, by her vision, extraordinary knowledge of and experience in dance, and her hard work, created, nurtured and grew QL2 Dance.

“It has become a leader nationally and internationally in youth dance practice and a supportive hub for growing and strengthening contemporary dance in Canberra.”

Daniel Riley, artistic director of the Australian Dance Theatre, who was a member of QL2 Dance in its earliest days says, “I am very fortunate to be one of many, many practising Australian artists and arts workers who were introduced to the world of contemporary dance by Ruth.”

Leading dance identity and mentor Julie Dyson says, “Ruth Osborne has been a guiding light in dance for young people for as long as I can remember. Her extraordinary legacy lives on in the company’s impressive alumni, many of whom are now professional dance artists themselves, both in Australia and overseas.”

And Osborne, who says she is “delighted” that Holland will come on board, says “when I stop to reflect, I feel overwhelmed to think about the thousands of journeys of which I have been part – and how many of these young artists are now friends and colleagues, doing incredible things.”