The Queensland-based Australasian Dance Collective (ADC) and BlakDance have announced their First Collective Residencies for established and emerging First Nations choreographers and dancers.

The two-year program will host eight leading First Nations guest artists ­– raymond blanco, Vicki Van Hout, Yolande Brown, Jasmin Sheppard, Joel Bray, Katina Olsen, Karul Projects and Amrita Hepi – as Resident Choreographers.

Image © Australasian Dance Collective

Each choreographer will explore their artistic practice, working with an ensemble of eight dancers; the six ADC company artists as well as two roles for First Nations dancers for each residency.

Each residency will be held in ADC’s studio in the Judith Wright Arts Centre and will include masterclasses for local artists to connect with, and learn from, the guest artists.

This partnership between ADC and BlakDance reflects the organisations’ shared goal to support First Nations choreographers and create pathways for First Nations dancers.

“First Collective Residencies is the culmination of many years of collaboration with BlakDance with the goal of celebrating and supporting the work of First Nations dance artists. We also hope to generate broader opportunities for other First Nations dance artists and substantially increase our awareness, understanding and community...