Bangarra Dance Theatre invites young people of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage to participate in
REKINDLING
Explore Stories. Connect to Culture. Develop Performance Skills. Create Dance Theatre.
Under the Artistic Direction of Stephen Page, Australia’s leading Indigenous performing arts company Bangarra Dance Theatre is committed to inspire and develop the next generation of Indigenous storytellers through the mentoring and training of creative young people.
Bangarra invites young people of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage based in regional New South Wales to apply to be part of its intensive youth program, Rekindling. Exploring ‘who you are’ and ‘where you come from’, young people will research and gather stories from within their communities and develop performance and creative skills to enable them to produce their own dance theatre.
Selection workshops in NSW will take place on these dates:
11 February: Wellington
14 February: Moree
18 February: Kempsey
21 February: Blacktown
Twenty four secondary students will then be chosen from each community to participate in a series of gatherings based in local Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYCs) with the support of local elders.
Rekindling is led by Youth Program Director, Sidney Saltner and supported by two of Bangarra’s alumni – Patrick Thaiday, and Chantal Kerr. Saltner says of the program, “After meeting the elders in each community, I look forward to being part of these young people’s journey as they embrace their role as future custodians of their culture.”
Member for Orange, Mr Andrew Gee MP, is a strong supporter of the program stating recently, “As Australia’s only major Indigenous performing arts organisation, Bangarra Dance Theatre plays an important leadership role for Indigenous communities. This acclaimed company provides inspirational role models demonstrating the contemporary value and relevance of Indigenous cultures. The Rekindling Indigenous Youth Program further extends this positive leadership.”
Secondary school students who are interested in being part of this program can register on the Bangarra Dance Theatre website, www.bangarra.com.au/rekindling or call 02 9251 5333.
Applications to be part of the workshop selection process close on Thursday 7 February 2013.
The Rekindling Youth Program is funded through generous donations from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation; the George Hicks Foundation; the Australian Government Office for the Arts, Indigenous Culture Support program; and Bangarra’s private donors.
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