NAISDA Dance College hosted a memorable graduation ceremony on Tuesday, June 27, honouring the achievements of the talented First Nations graduates from the class of 2022.
The event brought together Elders, community leaders, industry professionals, and distinguished guests who shared their congratulations with the graduates.
Notable figures including the NSW Premier Chris Minns and Federal Minister for the Arts Tony Burke sent video messages to express their support.
In his congratulations, the Premier reflected that for almost 50 years, the college has promoted First Nations creativity, connection and culture, playing a pivotal role in promoting Indigenous Australian dance traditions.
“I know NAISDA graduates will emerge as skilled and confident performers and look forward to them being recognised in Australia and around the world,’’ he said.
Among the exceptional graduates, Lacey Bilger stood out for her outstanding commitment and perseverance.
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 disruptions and other obstacles, her hard work, determination and passion paid off with Bilger completing her training at NAISDA after an extended six-year learning journey.
Reflecting on her time at NAISDA, Bilger said visiting community in Nyinyikay, North East Arnhem Land on the college’s unique cultural residency, and the ongoing support of NAISDA trainers helped shape her as a dancer and connected her to her Indigenous Knowings.
“The Advanced Diploma has been about getting ready to go out into the professional world, I found that it is a really independent course which sets you up for whatever avenue you’d like to go down afterwards,” she said.
NAISDA graduation celebrates the achievements of students across four accredited curriculum courses.
The Advanced Diploma, which Bilger recently completed, focuses on developing entrepreneurial skills and offers retraining, skill enhancement, and diversification to meet the evolving demands of the performing arts industry.
As applications for next year’s cohort are now open, NAISDA encourages experienced dance practitioners to consider applying for next year’s Advanced Diploma.
NAISDA’s flexible learning streams ensure that qualifications are tailored to the individual’s experience and practice, so high school students seeking an exciting journey into the world of dance and performing arts can also apply to NAISDA through its entry-level qualifications.
The graduation ceremony, hosted by Master of Ceremonies Regional Manager for Aboriginal Affairs, Wiradjuri woman Jodi Shannon, included a keynote speech from Peta Strachan, a descendant of the Darug people of the Boorooberongal clan of NSW, and Artistic Director of Jannawi Dance Clan.
The ceremony also featured captivating performances, showcasing cultural and contemporary dance works.
NAISDA students will soon take to the professional stage in an upcoming production, ATI, directed by Head of Dance Deon Hastie, which will grace Carriageworks in a few weeks’ time.
Source:
NAISDA