treading Pathways

Treading Pathways
A new Indigenous dance project

The landmark ‘Creating Pathways’ forum, held last year at the National Museum of Australia, has led to aunique new partnership between Ausdance and the Australia Council. The new project —titled ‘Treading the Pathways'—will promote and implement the exciting ideas discussed and agreed to by mid-career Indigenous dance artists at the forum, and establish some of the ‘pathways’ for Indigenous dance in Australia identified by the participants.

In October 2005, these artists met to discuss issues such as identity, training, the question of contemporary Indigenous dance, career opportunities and professional practice. As a result of their recommendations, a new position of Indigenous dance co-ordinator has been funded by the Australia Council.

The co-ordinator will be guided by a new national Indigenous steering committee, and anyone who attended ‘Creating Pathways’ is eligible to be a member of this committee. If more than one person from each State and Territory expresses interest, Ausdance will convene local meetings to enable the group to select their representative.

For more information contact Julie Dyson, Ausdance National Executive Director, Telephone 02 6248 8992, email juliedyson@ausdance.org.au

Media Release

Creating Pathways was managed by Ausdance National and funded by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board and the Dance Board of the Australia Council, and the Arts ministries of NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. The National Museum of Australia hosted the event—generously providing a Public Programs staff member to facilitate the technial aspects of the presentations and manage the venues, equipment and documentation.

Publications
Lydia Miller's overview of Creating Pathways
Raymond Blanco's Creating Pathways keynote address
Marilyn Miller's editorial reflection on the Creating Pathways program