Leading Indigenous training organisation, NAISDA Dance College has teamed up with Ausdance NSW and Victoria, to spread the love of dance across the nation, and get Australians of all ages and abilities moving as part of Big Dance 2018.
Established in 2006 in London, Big Dance is the world’s largest dance celebration, which sees thousands of people dancing together at iconic locations across the globe. Ausdance VIC and Ausdance NSW are presenting the 2018 Big Dance. The initiative encourages participants to learn the offi cial Big Dance 2018 routine and culminates on International Dance Day (April 29) with planned performances taking place across the country and the world. This year’s Australian Big Dance routine was choreographed by NAISDA Dance College’s Head of Creative Studies, Ms Frances Rings, and NAISDA Sessional Trainer, Mr Craig Bary.
Both Ms Rings and Mr Bary are renowned choreographers, with Ms Rings considered one of the country’s preeminent Indigenous performing artists. In this easy-to-learn contemporary routine, Ms Rings and Mr Bary convey the strong connection to the land that all Australians share. “We are lucky to live in an incredible country that still emits ancient energy and incredible living culture. “The choreography represents our bloodlines, our culture and everyone coming together as we acknowledge the red earth as our spiritual centre,” said Ms Rings said. “Big Dance will connect everyone through movement and bring people together to share their stories and experiences with pride and from any dance form,” she added.
The music for Big Dance was specially composed by NAISDA Unit Manager of Music Composition and Dance on Film, Mr Huey Benjamin, who has composed scores for many of Australia’s leading choreographers and companies. The five-minute Big Dance routine, as performed by NAISDA’s young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Developing Artists, is currently available as an online tutorial. Participants are encouraged to gather friends and family and learn the Big Dance online or attend one of the multiple free Ausdance dance workshops running in Sydney or Melbourne. Participants can learn one of three separate sequences within the routine, ‘red’, black’ or ‘white’, with colours symbolising Indigenous people; Non-Indigenous people and the spiritual heart of Australia (bloodline and lineage) which is seen as the connection between Indigenous and nonIndigenous people.
Chief Executive Officer of NAISDA, Mr Kim Walker, said that NAISDA is proud to be associated with this important initiative, which encourages Australians to get involved with dance. “Big Dance is such a unique way to inspire Australians of all ages, abilities and experience to get moving and participate in an inclusive and fun community activity,” said Mr Walker. “This year’s Big Dance routine also provides a unique opportunity to learn more about First Nation culture and understand the unique connection between movement and storytelling,” he added.
Source: Media release, Mar 20 Alison Orren, Brilliant Logic