NAISDA Dance College facts for kids
The NAISDA Dance College is a special school in Kariong, New South Wales, Australia. It teaches performing arts like dance to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. NAISDA helps students learn traditional Indigenous dance and modern dance styles.
The college started in 1975 as the Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Scheme (AISDS). It later became the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) in 1988. Many people say NAISDA officially began in 1976.
A dance group called the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre (AIDT) grew out of NAISDA in 1976. Some dancers and choreographers from AIDT later helped create the famous Bangarra Dance Theatre.
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History of NAISDA
Early Years: 1975–1999
The Aboriginal/Islander Skills Development Scheme was started in 1975 by an African American dancer named Carole Johnson. She had visited Australia before and was asked to teach dance classes for Aboriginal people in Sydney.
In 1975, a special six-week workshop was held in Redfern. It taught different performing arts skills. Teachers included Carole Johnson (for contemporary dance), Eddie Pau and Henry Peters (for traditional Torres Strait Islands dance), and others who taught drama, speech, and more. Many talented young people took part in this workshop.
After the workshop, a three-year professional course called "Careers in Dance" was created. This course aimed to train Indigenous Australians in dance. It combined Western dance styles with traditional Aboriginal dance. Torres Strait Islander people were involved from the very beginning. This was important because traditional dances can only be performed if a traditional owner of that dance is there. The goal was to create a unique style of modern Indigenous dance.
In 1976, the "Careers in Dance" course became part of the Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Scheme (AISDS). This scheme later became NAISDA Dance College. NAISDA sees 1976 as its official start date.
Carole Johnson and other early teachers and students helped develop what is now known as Contemporary Indigenous Dance Technique.
Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre
The Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre (AIDT) was formed in 1976 from NAISDA students. It was the first modern Indigenous Australian dance company. AIDT traveled all over Australia and even to other countries, becoming very well known.
AIDT was led by Raymond D. Blanco starting in 1989. He was a former NAISDA student and the first Indigenous person to lead a dance company in Australia. AIDT stopped performing in 1998 after Raymond Blanco left.
Carole Johnson also started the Bangarra Dance Theatre in 1989. Stephen Page took over as its leader in 1991.
In 1997, NAISDA became a registered training organisation. This means it was officially recognized as a school that provides professional training. It also became part of the "Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence" (ARTS8). This group includes top training schools that get funding from the Australian government.
Recent Years: 2000–Present
For many years, NAISDA was located in different parts of Sydney. In 2007, it moved to its current home in the Mt Penang Parklands, near Gosford. Soon after the move, a former student named Kim Walker became the Executive Director and Head of Dance.
NAISDA gets funding from both the Australian and New South Wales Governments. It offers different levels of dance training, from Certificates to Diplomas.
Between 2008 and 2010, Kim Walker helped create a new study plan for the college. In 2012, a new building with special dance studios was opened.
In 2016, NAISDA's founder Carole Johnson went on a performing tour of the United States with three college graduates. Also in 2016, the NSW Arts Minister announced new funding for NAISDA.
In late 2016, NAISDA celebrated its 40th anniversary with an exhibition called Naya Wa Yugali ("We Dance" in Darkinyung language). It showed stories, photos, films, and artwork about the college's history.
NAISDA has strong connections with Indigenous communities in the Torres Strait and other parts of Australia, like Elcho Island and Yirrkala.
About NAISDA
NAISDA is located in the Mount Penang Parklands in Kariong, on the Central Coast of New South Wales. This area is on Darkinjung land.
Students who graduate from NAISDA go on to work in many areas of the arts. They become dancers, musicians, actors, and work in arts management.
NAISDA is a company that runs the Dance College. It is guided by a board of directors. The NAISDA Foundation is a separate group that helps raise money for the college. NAISDA continues to receive funding from the Australian and New South Wales Governments. It is part of the ARTS8 group of top performing arts training schools.
NAISDA has a very high completion rate for its students, meaning most students finish their courses successfully.
Future Plans
NAISDA has plans to build a new international arts education center next to its current campus. It will be called Naya Wa Yugali, which means "we dance" in the Darkinjung language.
This new center will offer more courses in the creative industry. It will help train more artists and leaders. It will also provide training for people already working in the arts. The plans include open classes, concerts, performances, and programs for schools and communities.
NAISDA in Film and TV
NAISDA has been featured in television shows:
- In 2002, an ABC Television documentary called From Dreamtime to Dance was about NAISDA.
- The school also appeared in an episode of the 2013 TV series Desperate Measures. This episode featured Monica Stevens, a choreographer and former NAISDA student.
Important People
Malcolm Cole
Malcolm Cole (1949-1995) was an Aboriginal and South Sea Islander man who later became a teacher and counselor at NAISDA. He is remembered for his part in the 1988 Sydney Mardi Gras parade. He played the role of Captain Cook in a special performance that was the first Aboriginal float in the parade.
Malcolm Cole also taught dance at many schools in Australia. He was one of the first hosts for ABC Television's Blackout show in 1989.
His legacy lives on through the Malcolm Cole Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Performing Arts Scholarship at the University of New South Wales. There are also awards at Alexandria Public School called "Malcolms," and a street in Canberra named Malcolm Cole Terrace.
A large mural of Malcolm Cole dressed as Captain Cook is painted at White Bay Power Station in Sydney. It was created by artist Dylan Mooney for the 2024 Biennale of Sydney.
Other Staff
Many other talented teachers have worked at NAISDA, including famous dancers like David Gulpilil and Larry Gurruwiwi.
Notable Graduates
Wayne Nicol and Dorathea Randall were the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander choreographers to graduate from NAISDA.
Other well-known graduates include:
- Christine Anu
- Lillian Crombie
- Gary Lang (from NT Dance Company)
- Stephen Page
- Russell Page
See also
