Each year, NAISDA welcomes Design and Directing students from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) for a week of creativity, connection and disruption.
The NAISDA and NIDA students participate in a weeklong residency program that explores cultural practice in teaching, cross cultural storytelling, approaches to performance making, and exploring the collaborative creative space, among many other things.
This year’s cultural and creative dialogue began on a Monday with an On County Smoking led by Dharug and Gubbi Gubbi man and NAISDA Cultural Trainer, Stu McMinn.
The week, which culminates in a creative showing, was again skilfully led by Wakka Wakka and Kombumerri dancer/choreographer, and NAISDA Dance Lead, Katina Olsen.
To get a better insight into the impact of the week, NAISDA student Drew Walker shared her thoughts on the week. Drew is a Wiradjuri woman who was born and raised on Dharug Country in Western Sydney.
Drew who has been dancing since she was five years old, across jazz, tap and hip hop, is currently studying for her Advanced Diploma.
Drew reflected on the week:
“You start on the Monday, and you go out On Country. This year it was with Uncle Stu and he talked to us about his family, his lineage and kinship systems. He also taught us how to make rope using stringybark. On our walk we saw rock engravings as well. The NIDA team come out with us and do all the activities, so we go through the journey together which is good.”
“I have been part of the experience with NIDA twice now and both times were very different, but in good ways. Last year, one of our NAISDA assessments was a choreographic process. Being part of the week with NIDA, made me feel like I could do it. It gave me the confidence.
“On the second day (NAISDA Trainer and Chair of the Board of Studies) Dr Nerida Blair spoke to us. She shared her own ideas around Western knowledge and Indigenous Knowings and how we can implement and practice both.”
During the week students are asked to bring something to share with the group. This might be an object, a dance phrase, a story, a material resource to be repurposed, or a gesture. This object doesn’t need to be weighted in meaning; but is used as a catalyst for collaborative thinking and doing.
“I have a love for crocodiles, so I bought my stuffed crocodiles along, ” explained Drew.
“It was a good way to start conversations and think about how we explore creative ideas. It was also great to be able to introduce the NIDA team to our NAISDA world. Some of them had never danced or moved in that way before, so helping guide them through that experience and making it a safe space for everyone was really nice. There is something so special about the week.
“One thing that I will take with me from the week, is something we spoke about in a group session. We talked about what brings us joy.
“Sometimes we all get stuck in the ideas of what we want people to see us create, but we talked about being able to throw that expectation out the window and come up with our own ideas and play with them. It’s something we all held on to that week.”
Our sincere thanks to everyone across both organisations who organised, shared and participated in the week of collaborative learning and exchange, making it such a success.
NAISDA and NIDA are both part of the Arts8: the Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence. The Arts8 are the eight national elite training organisations in the performing arts, which support Australia’s thriving creative economy.