NAISDA places culture at the core of how we support and educate our young people. Our unique teaching model has been developed in powerful partnership with remote Communities, Elders and Cultural Tutors. Their deep guidance and sharing of cultural knowledge, kinship and connection to Country empowers and shapes our young people with lifelong skills to articulate their own contemporary practice and build opportunity.
NAISDA organises three annual residencies:
College Residency I
Between two and six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Tutors leave their home communities early each year to live on campus at NAISDA. During this visit, NAISDA Developing Artists are immersed in all aspects of cultural dance and lifestyle, with a learning focus ranging from dance, song and cultural understanding to props and costume-making. When the Cultural Tutors return home, NAISDA’s cultural teachers are responsible for the DAs rehearsing the dances throughout the year.
Remote Residency II
Later in the academic year, Developing Artists will visit the Cultural Tutors’ homelands. These residencies run for one week, providing Developing Artists with a transforming experience. Developing Artists live in the Cultural Tutors’ community gaining in-depth insight into the cultural life and dance on country where the dances were created. Connections made through these residencies form bonds that last a lifetime.
College Residency III
The final visit for the year is when the Cultural Tutors return to NAISDA to teach and perform in NAISDA’s annual End of Year Production. This Residency focuses on the performance and production aspects in a contemporary theatre context.