NAISDA is delighted to share the news that Graduates Daniel Mateo (2020) and Maddison Paluch (2019) have been announced as 2021 recipients of Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Russell Page Graduate Program, joining as Company Dancers.
The Russell Page Graduate Program provides the opportunity for First Nations early career artists to develop as professional Dancers and facilitators through training, mentoring, performance and touring seasons – one of many ways that Bangarra continues its commitment to supporting and fostering the talent of the next generation of Dancers.
Photo credit: Lisa Haymes
Daniel and Maddison will make their debut as Dancers performing with the Company in Spirit: a retrospective 2021 at Sydney Festival this month. As part of the Russell Page Graduate Program, they will complete a one-year intensive immersion experiencing the rigour and training of what is expected in the role as a professional dance artist, guided in a nurturing environment.
Photo credit: Wayne Quilliam
Associate Artistic Director Frances Rings said, “Named after the younger brother of Artistic Director Stephen and his Songman brother David, Russell represented what it was to be an Indigenous performing artist; to be humble, vibrant, artistically gifted and generous. He was also passionate about passing on knowledge to the next generation of young artists.”
“These qualities we see reflected in a generation of Dancers coming through the Russell Page Graduate Program today. Maddie, Daniel [and Mitchell] bring exciting new blood to the Company, and alongside our current Dancers, represent just a few of the 300 language groups from across Indigenous Australia.”
Initiated in 2014, The Russell Page Graduate Program is supported by a group of philanthropists and the Sherry-Hogan Foundation. The program is part of Bangarra’s commitment to building a strong platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and artists and is named for the late Russell Page, a senior Bangarra artist who passed away in 2002.
Photo credit for feature image: Dan Boud via Bangarra Dance Theatre