BLAKDANCE RESIDENCY PROGRAM

BlakDance’s Residency Program provides funded creative development opportunities to First Nation dance artists who have connections to Country and/or who reside in Queensland. 

Artists are holistically supported to explore new ideas, interrogate an existing work, explore new collaborative relationships, or research their movement practice in connection to Country and kin. In addition to the resourced studio residencies at local Brisbane venues, residencies may include time spent on Country, mentoring from Senior First Nations artists and local Elders, and support for next stage opportunities.

The current program is taking place across 2021/22, featuring projects from Keia McGrady, Olivia Adams and Alinta McGrady and a new collaboration between Tyrel Dulvarie, Joshua Taliani and Zayah Bond. It is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Access Arts, Brisbane Powerhouse and Studio 1.

Background

At the 2017 National Indigenous Dance Forum, the lack of opportunities to safely innovate cultural ways of creating dance was identified by the First Nations dance community as a key priority to address. The BlakDance Residency Program is an ongoing response to this, with each residency co-designed with the artist to support both their artistic and cultural needs.

The program is underpinned with high-quality documentation, and administrative, technical and production assistance. Every residency also has the option to connect with industry and community members through an informal showing, sharing outcomes of their residency and receiving critical feedback.

The first iteration of the BlakDance Residency Program took place over 2018-2019 and supported the initial development of new work by Karul Projects, Katina Olsen and eXcelsior. These residencies were supported by Arts Queensland, Backbone Youth Arts and Brisbane City Council’s Gathering initiative. 

The 2018/19 program seeded further developments for all three projects, including the premiere of full-length work SILENCE by Karul Projects in Brisbane Festival 2020.

The 2021/22 BlakDance Residency Program has received financial assistance from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland QASP, with additional support from Access Arts, Brisbane Powerhouse and Studio1.