On Thursday 12 April 2018, NAISDA Dance College, Australia’s leading performing arts organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, celebrated our country’s latest cohort of creative leaders and innovators at its Class of 2017 Graduation Ceremony.
2014 NAISDA Graduate and Independent Artist Kyle Shilling hosted the Ceremony, sharing hilarious and heartwarming anecdotes from his time at NAISDA, while Keynote Speaker Vicki Van Hout regaled the audience with her experiences as a young Developing Artist and Independent Artist, reminding the graduates that they can do anything they set their hearts and minds to.
We would like to thank our esteemed guests and presenters who helped to make the day a success: The Hon Linda Burney MP, Senator Deborah O’Neill, Professor The Hon Dame Marie R Bashir AD CVO, Deborah Cheetham AO, Bronwyn Chambers, Robyn Heras, Chris Harris, Kathy Harris, Christine Hammond, Dr Nerida Blair, Sean Gordon, Sharona Torrens and Bruce Waia-Terare.
Kim Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NAISDA Dance College expressed his pride for all graduating artists.
“A NAISDA education gives graduates the skills, qualifications and ability to follow their passion, realise dreams and equip them for a successful future in the arts. We have been at the forefront of dance performance training of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for over 40 years. NAISDA graduates truly are recognised leaders in their disciplines,” said Mr Walker.
Graduates Bradley Smith and Lillian Banks are perfect illustrations. They attended the ceremony having taken time out from their recent national tour with world-renowned Bangarra Dance Theatre. After leaving NAISDA they secured 12 months professional experience and training through Bangarra’s coveted Russell Page Graduate Program.
With 60% of Bangarra dancers being NAISDA alumni, they continue the strong legacy of shining on the Bangarra stage, established by icons of Indigenous performing arts before them.
“The demand for Indigenous artists, performance and practice is ever growing both in Australia and globally,” said Mr Walker.
“NAISDA is here to prepare young people for these opportunities; to help them build, national and international partnerships, engage in multidisciplinary projects, create pioneering artworks and experiences, and shape and share our living cultures with even larger audiences through dance.”
One such artist is Thomas E.S. Kelly, who last year established one of Australia’s newest performing arts companies KARUL Projects and most recently, created a work as part of Festival 2018 for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“Importantly our success stories are made possible because culture is at the heart of everything we do. As a place of cultural learning we affirm, connect and celebrate our cultural identities and provide a pathway to confidence and self-expression that really has the power to transform lives,” explained Mr Walker.
Unique to Australia, NAISDA’s learning model is informed by powerful partnerships with Indigenous Elders, Cultural Tutors, On Country residencies, communities and networks extending across Australia.
“Ultimately, NAISDA is here to graduate more than dancers. We foster connections to culture and provide a space where our young people can safely experience their own worth and take pride in personal and cultural identity. We empower them to become, skilled, qualified and confident individuals, ready for the possibilities that lie ahead.”
“On behalf of the entire team at NAISDA Dance College, I congratulate each and every graduate from the Class of 2017.
We look ahead as well to welcoming another promising wave of Developing Artists next year, with auditions for our 2019 intake taking place from 3 to 7 December 2018. NAISDA is proud to be both a catalyst and cultural cultivator for the nation,” concluded Mr Walker.