Please spread this far and wide.

Yaama! To all NAISDA alumni, graduates and NAISDA family, my name is Monica Stevens (NAISDA graduate ’84, former staff member and Independent Artistic Director and alumnae of NAISDA Dance College.)

I am pleased to invite you to the NAISDA Dance College 40^th Anniversary’s Circle of Cultures event that will take place from Tuesday 15 (Community night) – Thursday 24 November (closing night) 2016.

The program has four specific elements:

Speaking Countries The coming together of cultural communities that have had a significant contribution to NAISDA.
From Sand to Stage the NAISDA EOYS
Naya Wa Yugali NAISDA exhibition on the history of NAISDA
Closing night alumni event. This where we hope all NAISDA students staff and supporters come together for an evening of celebrations, recognition and dance.

As Co Program Director, I am forming an advisory group to contact people who have had associations to NAISDA. This celebration makes a significant acknowledgement to those who have made substantial impacts on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance community in Australia. Since the 1970’s Indigenous dance adventurers have gone beyond our borders to dance our stories. The gesture to gather the alumni and associates (people who have been students, teachers, choreographers, production crew and musicians) of NAISDA Dance College is to show gratitude.

The 40^th anniversary two-week event draws on the history of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance legends and the artists living their dance dreams. As well as the dancers, there are people who made life-long friendships; those who married at NAISDA studio, who are the NAISDA babies and who have made their life in professions other than the performing arts. The personal and professional connections, relationships and partnerships are still building NAISDA Dance College. A fantastic example of professional connectedness is the curator for the Carriageworks NAISDA 40^th photographic exhibition Tahjee Moar, happens to be the daughter of a NAISDA alumnae.

I am contacting and reaching out to people to assist make participation at the Circle of Cultures, 40^th Anniversary celebrations, memorable. There are three ways you can participate:

Attend night performances, matinees, workshops and a public cultural dance discussion
Alumni and/or artists can contribute to the program as an artist in the foyer space and the final night where artists are invited to dance, sing and perform.
Or a combination of both aspects of participation.

If you are and alumni or an associate, what you need to do is make contact with me at NAISDA Dance College.

Please call NAISDA on 02 4340 3100 or FREECALL 1800 117 116 or contact me at producer@naisda.com.au