Sector Engagement
We engage deeply with contemporary First Nations dancers, choreographers, small-to-medium companies, our communities and arts industry partners to inform our direction and priorities. Priorities identified at the 2017 National Indigenous Dance Forum have directly guided our work.
Gatherings
Colonisation has had many impacts on our communities, including dispersal. The act of Gathering is defiance. It enables re-connection, resurgence and organising. It’s an intervention on colonialism. The following Gatherings are BlakDance led/created/collaborative initiatives in response to the sector needs.
UPCOMING Sector Gatherings
In a revolutionary moment for dance in this country, Blak Futures is an unprecedented two day event that sees some of our fiercest Blak artists converge on Kaurna Yerta to plant the seeds of the future of blak dance.
A collaboration between Australian Dance Theatre, BlakDance and Adelaide Festival’s Time to Talk series, Blak Futures sees First Nations Artistic Directors from funded dance companies gather on Kaurna Yerta to plant the seeds of the future of blak dance and artistry in this country.
Facilitated by Marilyn Miller and Wesley Enoch AM, Blak Futures will see artists Gary Lang (NT Dance Company), Frances Rings (Bangarra Dance Theatre), Jacob Boehme (Idja Dance Theatre), Dalisa Pigram (Marrugeku), Daniel Riley (Australian Dance Theatre), Joel Bray (Joel Bray Dance) and Thomas E.S Kelly and Taree Sansbury (Karul Projects) reimagine what dance can be in this country.
16 - 17 March, 2024
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Independent Dance Artist Network Gathering
The Independent First Nations dance zoom sessions are a response to the COVID19 crisis in 2020 when our sector went into lockdown and isolation. They are a regular zoom featuring a guest Elder to open and close the dialogue and provide advice or guidance to the independent practitioners throughout the discussions.
Industry Events
BlakDance curates intimate industry events inviting First Nations creatives and presenters to attend a premiere or showing of a new work. This form of dedicated networking creates a conduit for both industry and artists to engage meaningfully, share understandings and critical dialogue about the work and build relationships.
Creative Development Feedback Events
BlakDance supports a Critical Response Process (CRP) to shape constructive dialogues about works-in-progress. Using a series of steps guided by a facilitator, it affords both the maker and a group of responders a chance to ask questions, share reactions, and voice opinions with the goal of building a stronger work of art. The Process offers artists valuable information and engages industry leaders, valued sector representatives and community leaders in the art making process.
Our feedback events cultivate champions of the work, fostering future mobilisation and provide a framework for feedback that enables the work to develop with industry and peer input which increases the quality, reach and viability of the production for future touring.
Previous Sector Gatherings
Advocacy
Whatever the rationale, and whatever the ask may be, a more unified approach is essential to better advocacy for dance and the performing arts. The following initiatives are a collaborative approach to enhancing the overall sector locally, nationally and globally.
Tri Nations Network
The Tri-Nations network gathers First Nations artists, companies, presenters, directors and producers to develop and maintain a cohesive and concentrated discussion regarding self-determined; platforms, collaborations, co-presentations and productions across Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Submissions
In collaboration with ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, Marrugeku, Moogahlin Performing Arts, National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA), and BlakDance contributes to submissions and enquiries: