NAISDA Developing Artists took their practice to new heights during an intensive industry placement with acclaimed physical theatre company Legs On The Wall.
Diploma Developing Artists trained at the company’s Sydney home, The Red Box, under the guidance of Artistic Director Joshua Thomson in September. The week-long program designed for Diploma and Advanced Diploma offered participants an opportunity to experience the rigours of a professional creative workplace.
While designed for NAISDA’s Diploma cohort, Wonnarua woman Anja Atkinson was one of two Certificate IV artists invited to the program in recognition of her outstanding commitment and attitude.
“It was a highlight for me to work with the Diploma students, but also to work in a setting where we were treated as professionals,” Atkinson said.
“I feel like I’ve gotten a really good experience out of it and it’s now given me a whole new skillset just by being a part of this experience.”
Throughout the week, participants were pushed to expand their artistic boundaries through harness work, aerial skills and “dancing on the wall” five metres above the ground. The physically demanding training combined aerial technique, athleticism and dance artistry, requiring courage, resilience and adaptability.
While the wall may look daunting at first, Wemba Wemba man Jamie Byrnes said the harness work became more natural as the week went on.
“At the start I was thinking it was a bit weird and a bit funny, but once we were actually walking it wasn’t that bad,” Byrnes said.
“Even though it’s that high, I feel like at times that adrenaline takes over so you’re not really thinking – you’re just doing.”
Anja found the process intimidating, but felt well prepared for the challenge.
“We did some wall-walking and running, and had to hold ourselves on this horizontal line – and I feel like that was really hard to be able to have that strength to hold there.
“Then they started teaching us how to do flips and stuff with the harness and it was really cool to be able to do that.
“It was really different from doing our normal dancing on the floor and being really grounded to up high in the air and then doing these crazy flips and tricks.”
NAISDA’s industry intensives and placements are a key part of preparing Developing Artists for professional careers, offering them invaluable access to leading practitioners and pathways to future opportunities.
Our sincere thanks to Joshua and his team for generously sharing their time, venue, skills, knowledge, and mentoring.