Anja is a proud Wonnarua woman, born in Maitland and raised in Kurri Kurri on Awabakal Country, NSW. Her connection to community, culture, and storytelling through movement is at the heart of her artistic practice.
Anja is currently a developing artist at NAISDA Dance College, where she is training to become a professional contemporary and First Nations dancer. She is committed to strengthening her cultural knowledge, deepening her connection to Country, and refining her technical and performance skills to become a versatile and grounded performer.
Before pursuing dance full-time, Anja completed a Bachelor Degree in Criminology, majoring in Psychology in 2023. She gained professional experience working with Community Corrections, supporting adult offenders through behaviour change programs and developing personalised case plans aimed at reducing recidivism.
Anja has been dancing since the age of two at her hometown dance studio. She previously performed with an Aboriginal dance group, touring across NSW and appearing at major community and sporting events.
Since joining NAISDA, Anja has performed in the 2025 mid-year production Wulbangadhi Wabarangya and the end-of-year production Echoing the Future, directed by Charles Koroneho. These works have further shaped her artistic identity, allowing her to explore contemporary Indigenous storytelling and collaborative creative processes.
Her long-term goal is to become an independent professional dancer or join a leading contemporary dance company. She is passionate about using dance as a platform for cultural expression, healing, community and to contribute to the continuation and evolution of cultural storytelling through dance.