Dancenorth Australia is set to unveil the seventh iteration of its highly anticipated annual series, Tomorrow Makers 7, offering a compelling glimpse into the burgeoning creative voices within the company's ensemble. Presented from May 22nd to 24th, 2025, at Dancenorth's home in Gurambilbarra (Townsville), the renowned North Queensland-based company will showcase six brand new dance works at its home base in Gurambilbarra (Townsville), offering a bold leap into the unknown where movement, ideas, and creativity collide.
Tomorrow Makers stands as a vital platform for supporting the future of dance by empowering the Dancenorth Ensemble members to step into the role of choreographer. It provides a nurturing environment for them to cultivate their independent creative practices and develop new dance performances with the benefit of comprehensive production values. This annual series is a testament to Dancenorth's commitment to fostering artistic growth and innovation from within.
Curated by Dancenorth Co-Artistic Director Amber Haines, Tomorrow Makers 7 promises a vivid collage of dance. The series is designed to unleash imagination, dissolve expectations, and embrace curiosity, showcasing the diverse creative landscapes within the ensemble. Each performance offers audiences a unique window into the boundless creativity of the participating artists – works that are described as playful, poignant, and utterly alive. "It feels vital to the future of dance that established companies actively create space for emerging artists to make work," says Haines. She highlights the increasing rarity of opportunities for independent artists to engage in full creation processes due to pressures on the sector. "Tomorrow Makers not only uplifts our emerging makers but invigorates our broader community. Being privy to the inner workings of these relevant, thoughtful, and wildly talented artists breathes new life into local audiences - they relish its freshness and immediacy."
This is dance in its most electric form: fresh, fearless, and unfolding in real time. The investment in this program, significantly supported by the Ian Potter Foundation, alongside assistance from Creative Australia, Arts Queensland, and Townsville City Council, underscores its importance in the national dance landscape and its value to the local community in Gurambilbarra.
For the artists involved, the program plays a crucial role in their development. Award-winning artist and Dancenorth Ensemble member, Michael Smith, attests to its importance. "Tomorrow Makers is an extremely important program. There isn’t anything quite like it," says Smith. He values the rare opportunity to delve into areas of interest without the constraints often imposed by grant criteria or company expectations. "The freedom to interrogate, play, fail and grow enables the creation of work we perhaps wouldn't have had the courage, or permission, to create in other contexts."
Smith sees the program as essential preparation for independent careers. "In a lot of ways, this program is preparing us for what is to come as independent artists. If I were offered a commission for a new work on a company or for a venue, I know I could deliver a work from seed idea to full production because of the experience gleaned through Tomorrow Makers." Indeed, as a result of artist residency and creative development programs like Tomorrow Makers, Smith’s independent works have garnered international recognition, featuring in major Australian Arts Festivals, as well as TanzZeit in Berlin and AGITART Figueres Festival MOU in Spain.
For Tomorrow Makers 7, Smith is developing a work that continues his journey to liberate Queerness, celebrate authenticity, and promote love. "In the midst of troubling times, this work is both a cathartic release and an invitation to open — a process of letting go of what no longer serves the self to move towards collective empowerment," he explains.
The six new works will be created and performed by the Dancenorth Ensemble members: Sabine Crompton-Ward, Tiana Lung, Aleeya McFadyen-Rew, Damian Meredith, Jag Popham, and Michael Smith, featuring Felix Sampson. The season benefits from the expert production team, with Lighting Designer Yoshie Kenny and Production Manager Candice Marshall bringing the artists' visions to fruition.
Audiences eager for a sneak peek into the creative process can attend the "Under Construction" event on May 8th, offering a valuable behind-the-scenes look at the works in development.
Tomorrow Makers 7 is an investment in the artists who will shape the future of contemporary dance in Australia, offering them the essential space, resources, and support to explore their choreographic voices and share their unique perspectives with the world.