Tianie Scott-Knight is a Yankunytjatjara, Pitjantjatjara, Anmatyerre, Gamilaroi and Wiradjuri woman, born and raised on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra. Her identity, values and practice are grounded in Country, culture and community. Prior to commencing her studies at NAISDA, Tianie worked at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as the First Nations Public Diplomacy Lead, using culture and storytelling to support relationship-building and connection with international partners and communities.
Tianie began dancing as a young girl, learning traditional dance alongside ballet, before moving into urban styles throughout her teenage years. After spending a number of years away from formal dance training, she comes to NAISDA with a strong intention to reconnect with this part of herself. Tianie sees this year as a representation of return, a time to rebuild and deepen her relationship with dance as a cultural, creative and personal practice.
She is the granddaughter of Dorothea Randall, one of the pioneering Aboriginal dancers who trained in the earliest years of what would become NAISDA Dance College. Tianie is inspired by her grandmother and the contribution she made to shaping Indigenous contemporary dance at NAISDA, grounding movement in culture, story and community.
Tianie’s aspirations are to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps by carrying on her legacy. Through her training at NAISDA, she hopes to deepen her cultural knowledge and artistic practice, and to use her experience and learnings to give back to community, particularly by teaching and supporting young people to connect with culture, identity and dance.