Indigenous south-west students have been given a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to work with Bangarra Dance Theatre Australia.
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The contemporary dance company began intensive residencies with 38 Brauer, Warrnambool and Hawkesdale college students on Monday.
Bangarra community engagement manager Libby Collins said the Rekindling dance workshops, which inspired pride, kinship and strength, would culminate in a free community performance in May.
The newly-created dances are choreographed after a series of gatherings where the 24 chosen participants form connections with local elders and community leaders.
They share local stories, songs and dance, and develop skills to produce thought-provoking dance theatre.
Youth program director Sidney Saltner said Rekindling was a transformative experience. “Self-confidence and a strong connection to culture are fundamental to the development of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ identity and wellbeing,” he said.
“By using movement and creativity to build a stimulating and positive environment, Rekindling opens up a space for teenagers to embrace and become more deeply aware of their culture.”
Ms Collins said the dances were student led. “It’s a powerful tool to use dance as a form of cultural expression,” she said. “We’ve done it for generations and generations and now it’s just introducing kids into the contemporary form, but using their identity as their inspiration.”
Ms Collins said while some students were “shy and reluctant” at the beginning, they were the ones who were “running the show” by the end of the workshops.
Brauer College Koorie education leader Daneel Robinson said it was important for students to connect with their culture and the community.
“Bangarra Dance Theatre are world-recognised, they’re amazing performers, they’re very skilled at what they do and they’re a great model,” she said.
Ms Robinson said it was also a chance to connect with students from other schools.
Warrnambool College Kalay Academy director Anne Jane said it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity”.
“It’s about leadership as well as dance, empowering them to be proud of their heritage,” Mrs Jane said.
“The fact they will go out into the local community with local elders is another was of learning and embedding history.”
More than 300 students in 20 regional and remote communities across five states have participated in the program