Australia’s leading performing arts training organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, NAISDA Dance College (NAISDA), is calling on First Nations students aged 16 and over to apply for next year’s intake before the deadline of 20 November 2023. Successful applicants will attend the online auditions held on Tuesday 28 November.
NAISDA’s online auditions were designed to make the application process more accessible for young people from across Australia who missed out on the College’s onsite auditions held earlier this year.
“We understand that not everyone is able to attend our onsite auditions, so we’re pleased to offer them an online alternative,” said NAISDA CEO Kim Walker.
“Auditioning online is easy and convenient, and it gives young people from remote and regional communities the same opportunity to apply to NAISDA as those who may live closer to our campus on Darkinjung Country on the NSW Central Coast.”
NAISDA offers a range of full-time training and qualifications from Certificate III through to Advanced Diploma. It’s nationally-accredited curriculum is the only one of its kind in Australia, and is rich in cultural knowledge, kinship and connection to Country.
“Our unique learning model offers young people both the technical skills, as well as cultural support, knowledge and learnings that have been developed in powerful partnership with local and remote Communities, Elders and Cultural Tutors,” said Mr Walker.
“Our annual Cultural Residency program invites Cultural Tutors onsite to the college, and later in the year students continue and expand their learning on Country with the remote communities where the songs and dances first originated.”
“These connections last a lifetime and are just one of the ways that we embed culture while supporting and training our students,” said Mr Walker.
NAISDA also extends learning beyond studios and classrooms, offering industry placements with national arts companies along with real-world performance and production experiences in professional venues.
This year, our students presented an amazing July production called ATI for three performances at Carriageworks, Sydney. Our performance seasons offer valuable experiences to hone skills as well as offering audiences the opportunity to share and celebrate students’ stories and skills through their captivating contemporary and cultural performances.
NAISDA has a proud tradition of producing the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers, with alumni including Christine Anu, Bangarra’s Frances Rings and Stephen Page, Kural Project’s Thomas E S Kelly and Home and Away star Kyle Shilling.
To apply for NAISDA’s online auditions, Aboriginal and Torres Strait applicants aged 16 and over should visit: www.naisda.com.au and submit their application before 20 November 2023.
Image: Students at NAISDA (supplied)