22 January 2018
Australian First Nations Dance hits the International Black Dance Stage in Los Angeles
The International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance, produced by our sister organisation the International Association of Blacks In Dance (IABD), is now on in Los Angeles, on Tongva country, from 23rd – 28th January 2018 and a delegation of Australian First Nations Dance practitioners and companies are attending.
BlakDance communities have been exchanging through cultural events for decades, however this may be the largest number of First Nations Australian dancers and groups to be invited to attend the prestigious event. They will join dance professionals who represent the broadest gathering of black dance professionals in the USA and the World.
The conference and festival will go for four days and they will have opportunities to engage with dance professionals, network, participate in master classes, and witness performances from the best Black Dance companies in the world.
The Australian First Nations representatives were chosen by a panel from IABD. They are:
- Monica Stevens – Independent practitioner
- Rita Pryce, and her company, Baiwa Kazil and the Pryce Centre for Performing Arts
- Pauline Lampton, and her company, Meriki Performing Arts (formerly known as Biddigal Performing Arts)
- Nicola Sabatino – Independent Practitioner
- Sinsa Jo Mansell, and her company, Pakana Kanaplila
- Ngioka Bunda-Heath – Independent Practitioner
Ngioka Bunda-Heath, Baiwa Kazil, and Meriki Performing Arts will be performing in the late-night showcases where they will present excerpts from their latest work.
BlakDance Australia Board Director, Angela Flynn will also be attending and holding discussions with IABD about developing more opportunities for hosting and exchange in the future.
- End Release -
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Leesa Watego
BlakDance
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BlakDance is Australia’s peak body for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander dance