The choreographers were Ojeya Cruz Banks, Cathy Livermore, Jack Gray, Tammi Gissell, Rita Pryce and Albert David. Being surrounded by these artists and listening to tales of their past gave me a strong sense of self, cultural worth and pride. It was one of the most satisfying emotions, and I imagine that the students, adults and children around me shared this feeling.
The lights went down and it was the evening of the first performance. The feelings and thoughts that came across my mind during the performance were unlike anything I had ever experienced. I felt exposed, but in a way that I had needed to be.
Being involved in the production BlakDance 2012, and working at BlakDance Australia Ltd as an intern in my final year as a journalism student has inspired me. We all have stories to share that connect us, and every one of us has a past, a history, ancestors and traditions.
It’s often challenging being an Indigenous Australian with pale skin and blonde hair, yet sitting there in the audience, this all became so insignificant to me.
I’m a Butchulla woman of Fraser Island, and grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland. My mother is an Indigenous artist, and during my childhood I was always surrounded by her art, and passion of culture and artistic expression. When I was watching the BlakDance 2012 performance I felt the music, the song, the stories and movement as if it were in my own body. It took me home.
It’s not every day that you can sit around and be surrounded by such a diverse cultural group of people. I know the future is secure with the support of our industry, with the vision to move forward with one voice.
BlakDance is an exciting place to be working as an intern in my final year as a dance and journalism student. I look forward to being a part of the planning for BlakDance 2014 and the many other initiatives.
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