We are excited to announce successful applicants for the BlakDance Residency Program 2018, in partnership with Backbone Youth Arts, Ausdance Queensland and Brisbane City Council’s Gathering.
Karul Projects
New work in development
Gold Coast company Karul Projects, founded by Yugambeh, Bundjalung and Wiradjuri choreographer Thomas E. S. Kelly. Featuring artistic collaboration from the hottest new talent in choreography Taree Sansbury, Karul Projects works with graduates of the Aboriginal Centre of Performing Arts (ACPA) and National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA). During their residency, they will create a new work titled SILENCE, developing much-needed career pathways, employment and opportunities for dancers in Queensland.
Katina Olsen and Aleksandra Borys
New work in development
Katina is a Wakka Wakka and Kombumerri contemporary dance artist and Aleksandra is a Polish born, UK-based artist. The duo is working on a cross-cultural project grounded in the relationship astronomy has with the human body. Their work will feature Kombumerri cosmology developed through protocol and cultural performance making methodology.
eXcelsior
New work in development
eXcelsior is an intracultural dance company made up of Queensland Murris, based in Brisbane. Featuring Leonard Donahue, Ben Maza, Benjamin Creek, Manduway Dutton and Joshua Thaiday. Their practice is anchored in body based storytelling and they have performed at the Sydney Opera House and festivals across Australia, most recently they were part of Festival 2018, Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast.
Image by Carla Zimbler; Karul Projects, Snap*Click*Shot
The BlakDance Residency Program exists to grow the sector, connecting our communities with opportunities to engage and explore dance practice. Delegates of the National Indigenous Dance Forum 2017 prioritised the need for ‘more space and time to develop contemporary dance practice’. The BlakDance residency program invests in this through offering residencies to develop performance work in a supportive environment for Queensland independent artists.
This opportunity includes artistic mentorship, connection to market, production support and curatorial feedback. It will stimulate employment, collaboration and partnership within the Brisbane sector by brokering creative support during the residency.
As part of the market development component BlakDance brings to all projects, these artists and companies will debut their showings in a First Nations dance party for industry and community.
Queensland is home to the highest critical mass of contemporary Indigenous choreographers in Australia, with a much needed focus on Brisbane this program nurtures and develops home-grown First Nations performance.
Please get in contact with us if you wish to become a patron of this Blak initiative.
~ END RELEASE ~
For further media information and images please contact:
Hannah Scanlon ~ hannah.scanlon@blakdance.org.au
Social Media:
#Queensland #MurriMagik #FirstNations #BlakDance #Meeanjin #ArchibaldMestonisdead