AUSTRALIA'S LEADING INDIGENOUS ARTS COLLEGE PREPARES "BENEATH THE ANCESTORS"

Students from NAISDA Dance College are preparing to launch “Beneath the Ancestors” with a Koori night on the 26th November followed by two performances for the general public. “Beneath the Ancestors” will open with a season at Laycock Street Theatre on the Central Coast before heading to Riverside Theatres in Parramatta for three shows in December.
The College, which relocated to Kariong on the Central Coast in 2006, has launched the careers of many successful artists and consistently presents an end of year performance that is both stunning and thought provoking. Critics raved over their 2008 performance “Tharramali”, directed by graduate Tamara Pearson and the Company is now in high demand on the cultural arts scene. Students at NAISDA can expect performance opportunities as far afield as Paris or Beijing, cultural residences on Saibai and Elcho Island, as well as working with companies in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin. This year, NAISDA was featured on ABC Television’s Message Stick program, further establishing itself as a training organisation that integrates cultural studies into its professional dance courses. Juanita Duncan will complete a Diploma in Careers in Dance this year and features
prominently in the marketing campaign for “Beneath the Ancestors”. Juanita comes from a large and respected clan from the Darkinjung area. It is this sense of belonging to the land that has inspired the show’s Director and NAISDA Artistic Coordinator, Jasmine Gulash.
Gulash says “Beneath the Ancestors” will give the audience the experience of oneness that comes from being connected with the earth and its history. “The idea of the earth taking a breath at dusk was inspiring to me. I wanted to take the dancers to a place where they were in touch with the physical landscape and could draw from its strength”, says Ms Gulash.
At “Beneath the Ancestors” you will see traditional indigenous dance, Saibai and Elcho Island traditional songs and dance, contemporary pieces by prominent choreographers and Developing Artist Eric Avery, and infusing story telling elements about the earth, its history and its links with people long gone but not forgotten. “That moment when we realise that we all stand on the shoulders of those who have walked this land before us, that we share this breath of life with them every day through our relationship with the living landscape of our beautiful country.”
Gosford Season
Laycock Street Theatre, North Gosford
Koori Night – Thursday 26 November
Opening Night – Friday 27 November 7:30pm
Saturday 28 November at 7:30pm
TICKETS: Adult $25, Conc/Child $15
Bookings: 43 233 233
Parramatta Season
Riverside Theatres
Church Street, Parramatta
3rd December 7:30pm
4 December 11:00am and 7:30pm
TICKETS: Adult $20, Conc/Child $15
Bookings: 8839 3399