ACPA – Bangarra Dance Theatre
Bangarra Dance Theatre (Bangarra) is recognised as Australia’s peak Indigenous dance company. It is one of the 28 Major Performing Arts companies designated by Federal and State Governments as having leadership roles within their artforms. Bangarra undertakes highly successful annual national and international tours.
ACPA’s ongoing partnership with Bangarra was established in 2008. It focuses on developing pathways to employment for ACPA’s senior dance students, with the aim of establishing ACPA as an incubator and feeder of young, talented Indigenous dancers into Bangarra.
Activities undertaken by the ACPA students with Bangarra include:
- participation in Bangarra’s daily company class, which improves and refines the students’ contemporary and traditional dance techniques in a professional environment;
- undertaking cultural development workshops with eminent traditional Indigenous artists, Djakapurra Munyarryun and Kathy Marika; and
- working with Stephen Page, Australia’s leading Indigenous choreographer, in rehearsals of his works.
The students will also have the opportunity to participate in classes at the Sydney Dance Company (SDC) Studios which will expose them to the very high standards of dance delivery at SDC, Australia’s premier contemporary dance company.
There is increasing demand nationally and internationally for high-quality Indigenous dance performances but there are only a small number of well-trained Indigenous dancers. Both ACPA and Bangarra see this partnership as being highly important for the future of contemporary Indigenous dance as an artform and as a positive way to develop employment opportunities for ACPA’s students.
ACPA – Queensland University of Technology
ACPA and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have agreed to a partnership that will enable four ACPA senior dance students to attend ballet and contemporary dance classes at QUT and be mentored by QUT senior staff. This will enhance the opportunities for ACPA students who want to develop a career in mainstream dance to audition successfully for QUT in the future.
ACPA – Griffith University
ACPA and Griffith University have agreed to collaborate from 2009 to improve the skills, and therefore the employment prospects, of ACPA’s Diploma Acting students. The ACPA students will be able to enrol and participate in core acting units at Griffith University and collaborate with a senior Griffith staff member to adapt an Indigenous story from a literary text to a play.
ACPA – Queensland Performing Arts Centre
ACPA and Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) are developing a three-year partnership that will enable ACPA students to extend their performing arts experience and knowledge by:
- having an annual opportunity to perform in QPAC’s professional venues;
- attending a wide range of professional performances and technical rehearsals at QPAC; and
- undertaking part-time employment at QPAC in the technical and service areas.
Australia Council for the Arts
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www.australiacouncil.gov.au/
Queensland Government
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www.arts.qld.gov.au/
This project has received financial assistance from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
www.deewr.gov.au
Virgin Blue
www.virginblue.com.au/
Perpetual
www.perpetual.com.au
Funded by The Edward Corbould Charitable Trust, managed by Perpetual.
Tim Fairfax Family Foundation
