Young First Nations artists from Australia and young Black dancers from the United Kingdom have come together in Sydney for a new cultural exchange between Bangarra Dance Theatre and London-based Artistry Youth Dance.
The Australian phase of the exchange runs from 19 to 31 August, bringing ten Artistry Youth Dance participants of African and Caribbean heritage to Australia to work with ten young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people selected from Bangarra’s Youth and Education Programs.
The Bangarra participants come from a range of Country and Mob across New South Wales and Queensland and were selected in recognition of their commitment to the company’s programs.
Based at Bangarra’s Walsh Bay studios, the young artists are taking part in cultural dance workshops led by Matthew Doyle, a descendant of the Muruwari people from north-west New South Wales. They will also develop new collaborative choreography examining identity, cultural inheritance and the relationship between where a person comes from and how they move through the world today.
The program provides space for the Artistry Youth Dance participants to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and Culture while sharing their own African and Caribbean heritages. Through dance and discussion, the two groups will consider points of connection in their experiences while recognising the distinct cultures and histories each brings to the studio.
Bangarra Director of Youth and Education Programs Sidney Saltner said the company had followed Artistry Youth Dance’s work in the UK for some time.
“We have long admired Artistry Youth Dance’s commitment to empowering young people of African and Caribbean heritage through dance and creative practice,” Saltner said.
“This program is driven by our shared passion and commitment to expand access and opportunities for youth and their communities through meaningful exchange and collaboration.”
Founded in 2013 by dancer and choreographer Kamara Gray, Artistry Youth Dance provides training and performance opportunities for young people of African and Caribbean heritage in the UK. Its programs have been developed in response to the limited representation of Black artists within British concert dance.
Gray said the exchange would allow participants from both organisations to learn from one another while developing their artistic practice.
“We are proud to have received support for this cultural exchange with Bangarra’s Youth and Education Program,” she said.
“It is an honour to collaborate with an organisation so integral to Australia’s cultural heritage and to create this opportunity for young people from both organisations to work together, and develop their skills as the next generation of cultural artists.”
Across its 37-year history, Bangarra has developed Youth and Education programs that connect young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with Story, movement, Culture and Country. The programs place cultural knowledge and creative expression alongside dance training, supporting participants to build confidence in their identity and artistic voice.
The Sydney exchange marks the beginning of an ongoing relationship between the organisations, with a reciprocal visit to the United Kingdom planned for 2027.
The project has received support from the Australian Government through Creative Australia. Further information is available from Bangarra Dance Theatre and Artistry Youth Dance.