Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk, who is also the arts minister, forgot one of Queensland's most awarded and celebrated arts companies in a speech at an arts event on Sunday night.
During a speech at the opening night of Ballet Preljocaj's production of Snow White in Brisbane the premier mentioned what an auspicious occasion it was to welcome the company to Brisbane because "of course we don't have a contemporary dance theatre here in Brisbane".
![Choreographer Natalie Weir's genius on display with The Host, from Expressions Dance Company.](/web/20160905181232im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/g/x/k/x/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gr8lxo.png/1473031375468.jpg)
What the premier seemed to have forgotten is that Brisbane is the home to Expressions Dance Company, one of Australia's most successful contemporary dance companies.
The company, under the artistic directorship of Natalie Weier, has been nominated for a number of Helpmann Awards as well as Australian Dance Awards.
Queensland is also home to DanceNorth, another of the country's most celebrated contemporary dance companies.
Former Expressions Dance Company chief executive officer Libby Lincoln described the oversight as "appalling".
"I'm just glad Natalie wasn't here because hearing that would have broken her heart," she said.
"That's insulting to Expressions and it's insulting to DanceNorth.
![Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk.](/web/20160905181232im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/w/b/w/7/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gr8lxo.png/1473031375468.jpg)
"We have two outstanding contemporary dance theatre companies in Queensland."
The faux pas came one night after the premier announced the organisational funding for small to medium arts companies, including Expressions and Dance North.
![Performers from Dancenorth rehearse Three Dancers ahead of its world premiere in Townsville.](/web/20160905181232im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/c/6/c/0/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gr8lxo.png/1473031375468.jpg)
Former Arts Minister Ian Walker, who was in the audience when the premier made the remark, said it was extraordinary the premier was unaware of the level of talent in her own backyard.
"When the premier made the statement that there are no contemporary dance theatres in Brisbane there was a ripple of disbelief through the crowd," Mr Walker said.
"Queensland has two of the most outstanding contemporary dance theatre companies in the country.
"It's extraordinary that the premier and minister for arts is unaware of the extraordinary talent in her own backyard."
Opposition leader and shadow arts minister Tim Nicholls, who was at the performance but didn't attend the party, said the mistake was embarrassing.
"How embarrassing that the Premier seems to have forgotten both Expressions Dance Company and DanceNorth," he said.
"It's difficult to see how anyone can have confidence in an arts minister who can't even remember our own Queensland-based contemporary arts companies."
An adviser to the premier told Fairfax Media Ms Palaszczuk went off script when making the remarks and that the statement was not in the speech prepared for her.
Ms Palaszczuk's office later issued a statement praising Queensland's contemporary dance theatres.
"The Premier appreciates that contemporary dance theatres in Queensland such as Dance North and Expressions contribute greatly to our cultural fabric and are internationally known," it said.
"That's why the Premier recently signed off on increased funding for small to medium artistic ventures including Dance North and Expressions.
"Ballet Prejlocaj exists on such a large scale and has its own, large dedicated theatre in France and is a wonderful privilege for Queenslanders to be able to experience."
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