NAISDA would like to congratulate Vicki Van Hout on receiving the 2019 Australia Council Award for Dance at the 2019 Australia Council Awards. The Award for Dance acknowledges the achievements of an artist who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to Australian dance.
Vicki is not only a graduate of NAISDA, but a mentor and inspiration to many of our Developing Artists. She is a celebrated independent artist with a career spanning over two decades.
Vicki shared with us what receiving this Award means to her.
“I was one of three Aboriginal women to be given an Award on the evening and to be in their company was an honour,” said Vicki.
“This Award is a celebration of something continuing – a nod to the people who came before me and the people who will no doubt come after me. It is an affirmation of the lineage that I am a part of,” she added.
NAISDA graduate Thomas ES Kelly, congratulated Vicki on her well-deserved accolade.
“Vicki is a genius! There’s no other way to identify her and to be someone that she took under her wing has always been something I’m grateful for,” said Thomas, who is the Founder and Artistic Director of Dance Company Karul Projects.
“If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be where I’m today,” he added.
From the entire team at NAISDA, we would like to congratulate Vicki on this achievement.