Here you will find news and updates for rehearsals and performances for the Aboriginal Dance Company. Please bookmark this page to stay up to date with the newest information, performance wrap-ups and photographs throughout the year.
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Introducing the 2024 NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company tutors
Tuesday 9 July 2024 - 12:01 pm
Sidney Saltner
Bangarra Dance Theatre Youth Program Director
Sidney is a descendent of the Wulli Wulli and Wakka Wakka people of Central Queensland.
Sidney graduated from the National Aboriginal Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College in 1991. While studying, Sidney undertook his apprenticeship with the Australian Dance Theatre and started to perform with the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre Company (AIDT). When he graduated, he continued to perform with AIDT for six years, for three of which he was Assistant Director. Sidney danced major roles in AIDT productions as well as in collaborations with Side Track Theatre and Belvoir.
Highlights of Sidney's performance career with Bangarra include the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival, and collaborations with The Australian Ballet including Rites and Gathering.
Sidney has been nominated for Best Male Dancer in the Australian Dance Awards and the Deadly Awards, and for a Mo Award. Throughout Sidney’s career he has performed and taught extensively throughout Australia and internationally in Asia, North and South America, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
In 2011, Sidney performed with the Australian Opera in La Traviata on Sydney Harbour, choreographed for the short film He Say by Leah Purcell and performed at the Edinburgh Festival with Leigh Warren & Dancers.
In his current role as Youth Program Director, Sidney has been at the forefront in developing Bangarra’s flagship Youth Program Rekindling, which aims to inspire the next generation of storytellers and cultural custodians.
He has forged new mentoring partnerships with New South Wales and Queensland and has instrumental of the success of the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company. He has choreographed many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works for the NSW Schools Spectacular and Creative Generations – State Schools Spectacular.
Sani Townson
Bangarra Dance Theatre Youth Program Coordinator
Sani comes from a strong cultural family who are of Samu, Koedal, Dhoeybaw clans of Saibai Island in the Torres Strait.
Sani studied at NAISDA 1996–2000 and danced with Bangarra 2001–2006. Since leaving Bangarra, he has worked with SBS, NITV and ABC, and collaborated with companies such as Gondwana Voices, Sydney Children’s Choir, QANTAS, Leigh Warren & Dancers, Insite Arts and NAISDA Dance College.
Sani has choreographed for Christine Anu, Felix Riebel, Kate Miller-Heidke, Sean Choolburra and Electric Fields. In 2020, Sani returned to Bangarra as the Youth Programs Coordinator while developing his own interactive children’s show Lagaw Mabaygal (Ailan ppl). He was one of the Cultural Consultants for Bangarra's first children's show, Waru - journey of the small turtle, which premiered in 2022 and is currently touring across Australia.
In 2023, Sani debuted Kulka as part of Dance Clan 2023 at Bangarra and choreographed the acclaimed Blaque Showgirls at Griffin Theatre Company. In 2024 Kulka is to make a thrilling opening piece for Horizon, paying homage to Sani’s grandfather and his Torres Strait heritage.
Amy Weatherall
Bangarra Dance Theatre Youth Program Team Member
Amy is a proud Kamilaroi woman born in Rockhampton, QLD.
Amy began her studies in dance at the age of four under the guidance of Diane Talbot. After finishing high school Amy completed an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts at the Aboriginal Centre of Performing Arts (ACPA) in Brisbane, and continued her studies with Global Dance Pro in Los Angeles and the Gold Coast.
In 2022, Amy was engaged by The Australian Ballet for their Education and Outreach program, touring to regional centres where she taught dance workshops in schools.
As the 2023 Russell Page Youth Programs Graduate Amy joins Bangarra’s Youth Programs Team Director, Sidney Saltner and Coordinator, Sani Townson for the 2023 program of Rekindling and other youth outreach activities being delivered to metropolitan, regional and remote communities in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
Holly Faulds
Bangarra Dance Theatre Youth Program Trainee
Russell Page Graduate
Holly is a proud Wiradjuri and Dharawal woman from Dubbo, NSW.
Holly is a dancer, artist, maker and teaching artist. From 2016 – 2019 she performed at the NSW State Dance Festival and Schools Spectacular with the NSW Aboriginal Dance Company. She then went on to NAISDA Dance College where she received her Advanced Diploma in Professional Performance. Holly has worked with many choreographers and completed secondments with companies including Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, Australasian Dance Company and Legs on the Wall.
Holly is also an accomplished artist and practices drawing, painting, sculpting and costume building. While on secondment with Bangarra Dance Theatre in 2023, she created the Red Mallee dress, which appeared in the Red Mallee duet in the national touring production of Yuldea. She also created multiple headpieces and costume components for the production.
Holly joins the Bangarra Youth Programs Team as the 2024 Russell Page Graduate Youth Trainee where she will help to deliver our flagship Rekindling program to Communities across Australia.
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Introducing the 2024 Aboriginal Dance Company staff
Tuesday 9 July 2024 - 9:57 am
Ensemble Manager
Alisha Grimston-Eason
Dance has been a constant in my life and it was an easy choice for teaching to become my career. I have worked in NSW Public Schools for nearly 20 years, teaching and mentoring many young dancers along the way. I have a passion for dance as a creative outlet and dance that not only entertains but communicates meaning. My students have been a part of many different opportunities offered to dancers from NSW Public Schools and I have enjoyed watching them make connections with like minded people and extend their performance skills. I have admired the Aboriginal Dance Company from afar and I am so pleased to be working with the dancers this year, providing care, support and leadership throughout rehearsals and performances as the Aboriginal Dance Company Manager.
Wellbeing Officer
Kellie Lalor
I'm a proud Paakantyi/Barkindji woman from far west NSW. I am currently the Aboriginal Education Officer at Orange High School. I have worked with First Nations students in supporting their attendance, participation and engagement at Pulse Alive, the State Dance Festival and the Schools Spectacular. My daughter Madison has been in the Company since 2022 and this year my daughter Eloise was accepted into the Associate program. I have worked as the Wellbeing Officer for the Aboriginal Dance Company and the Associate Program in 2023 and I'm excited to be a part of the Aboriginal Dance Company in 2024. I can't wait to meet you all and share this adventure with you.
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State Dance Festival – Aboriginal Dance Company
Monday 8 July 2024 - 3:01 pm
The Aboriginal Dance Company will participate in rehearsals during Term 3, Week 7 and Term 3, Week 9 in preparation for the State Dance Festival on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 September 2024. These rehearsals will take place at Bangarra Dance Theatre and Sydney Dance Company in Dawes Point and the Seymore Centre in Chippendale. An in depth rehearsal schedule can be found below. We ask that students please arrive at rehearsals 15 to 20 minutes before the 9 am start time and allow appropriate travel time. Students should not plan to leave rehearsals prior to 3 pm.
Please complete the permission form by Monday 12 August 2024 to provide appropriate permissions for:
- students to walk/not to go to the IGA during break times whilst rehearing in Week 1 and 2.
- students to visit Westfield Broadway during supervised lunch breaks at the Seymore Centre
- travel via private bus from Bangarra Dance Theatre to the Seymore Centre to attend rehearsals on 18 and 19 September only.
Rehearsal and performance schedule
The expectation is for all Aboriginal Dance Company students to participate in the full rehearsal schedule attatched. Students will be in rehearsals each day from 9 am – 3 pm, if there are any changes to the arrival or finish times, they will be informed prior to the day. For all rehearsals, students will be required to be dressed in appropriate and comfortable dance rehearsal attire. Please take note of the dates that your children are required for their relevant group. If you are unsure of what group your child is in please see the student list below:
Below is an overview that includes rehearsal times and locations:
| Date | Venue | Time | Event | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 2 Sep | Bangarra Dance Theatre | 9 am to 3 pm | Rehearsals | Company and associate |
| Tue 3 Sep | Bangarra Dance Theatre | 9 am to 3 pm | Rehearsals | Company and associate |
| Wed 4 Sep | Bangarra Dance Theatre | 9 am to 3 pm | Rehearsals, headshots and rehearsal photographs | Company and associate |
| Thu 5 Sep | Bangarra Dance Theatre | 9 am to 3 pm | Rehearsals and visit from NAISDA for morning session | Company and associate |
| Fri 6 Sep | Bangarra Dance Theatre | 9 am to 3 pm | Rehearsals | Company and associate |
| Date | Venue | Time | Event | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 16 Sep | Sydney Dance Company | 9 am to 3 pm | Rehearsals | Company only |
| Tue 17 Sep | Sydney Dance Company | 9 am to 3 pm | Rehearsals | Company only |
| Wed 18 Sep | Sydney Dance Company | 9 am to 2 pm | Rehearsals | Company only |
| Seymour Centre | 3 pm to 6 pm (TBC) | Spacing rehearsal | Company only | |
| Thu 19 Sep | Sydney Dance Company | 9 am to 2 pm | Rehearsals | Company only |
| Seymour Centre | 3 pm to 9 pm (TBC) | Technical rehearsal and performance | Company only | |
| Fri 20 Sep | Seymour Centre | 10 am to 9 pm (TBC) | Performances | Company only |
If for any reason there are clashes with the rehearsal schedule, you will need to directly contact the program coordinator Ashley Napoleoni on 8512 1190 or 0434567413 to gain approval for an exemption.
Costumes
Please complete the costume measurement form by Monday 22 July so that we can start preparing costumes for the State Dance Festival. For assistance with taking costume measurements, please use the below guide.
What to bring
- Bring a packed recess/lunch and water bottle to all rehearsal days. There is a cafe at the end of the wharf (Mr Jones), however it can get very busy and expensive. There is an IGA supermarket located on Hickson road. The students will not be able to leave the wharf to go there unless they have been given permission to walk there independantly (using the permission form linked at the top of this article). It is open very early and you can stop on your way to the studios to pick up lunch if needed. They have great sandwiches.
- Students should come to rehearsals dressed in dance wear and have hair tied up and away from their face.
- Students should receive their company tshirt in the first rehearsal week.
- All medications must be kept in a clear ziplock bag with the student’s name clearly marked, please let the Arts Initiatives team know if you have any medications and we will send the relevant documentation through to complete.
- Please make sure your name is clearly marked on belongings and leave unnecessary valuables at home.
Getting to rehearsals
On the first rehearsal day, (Monday 2 September) all students will be met by Ashley Napoeloni just through the Wharf 4/5 sign as pictured below. We ask that you aim to please arrive at 8:45 am and allow appropriate travel time.
Paid parking is available along Hickson Rd, and there are Wilsons parking stations close by. If you are travelling by public transport, Bangarra Dance Theatre is approximately a 15 minute walk from Circular Quay train station. At 9 am, the students will enter Bangarra Dance Theatre and begin the first rehearsal. At the request of Bangarra Dance Theatre, the rehearsals are closed to non department staff.
If on the day you are running late, we ask that you inform Ashley Napoleoni on 0434 567 413.
Bangarra Dance Theatre: Wharf 4/5, 15 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point NSW 2000