Reconnect, Re-energise, and Respect

Blakdance is grounded in a strong experience of driving Contemporary Indigenous Dance priorities. BlakDance Australia grew from Creating Pathways, a National Indigenous Dance Forum held in October 2005 at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. Funded by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board and the Dance Board of the Australia Council, CreatingPathways was organised by Ausdance National.

The Reconnect, Re-energise, and Respect aims of Creating Pathways animated essential dimensions of Culture, Skills Development, and Professional networking. The inaugural National Indigenous Dance Coordinator, funded as a 12-month pilot project (2007-2008) by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Arts Board in strategic initiative partnership with Ausdance National, got everyone Treading the Pathways.

Hosted by Ausdance Queensland at Queensland’s Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Treading the Pathways secured two more years of funding to 2010 from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board. Maintaining momentum, in November 2009 Treading the Pathways won Key Organisation status and began running as such from September 2010.

 In 2011 BlakDance transitioned from Treading the Pathways initiative into BlakDance Ltd founded by Marilyn Miller.