NAISDA Dance College

NAISDA Dance College is Australia’s premier Indigenous training college with a proud tradition of producing the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers since 1976.

NAISDA Dance College offers professional expertise and world class training facilities to deliver accredited training programs that are rich in cultural learning and practice. Located on Darkinjung land just north of Sydney, we provide a creative learning space designed to inspire and equip Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people for the future. Our dance performance program is delivered by qualified trainers comprised of former principal dancers, respected choreographers and cultural tutors from diverse Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities.

NAISDA students are known as Developing Artists while they undertake training and learn aspects of artistic life in the world of dance. Many NAISDA graduates continue to play key roles both onstage and off at companies such as Bangarra Dance Theatre and Descendance. The creative talents of developing artists are showcased each year at NAISDA Dance College’s performances and stage productions. The productions express our commitment to honour the world’s oldest living culture and share knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island dance, music, art and history with audiences from around the world.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture will always sound the heartbeat of NAISDA Dance College and underpin all elements of our courses. Our relationship with Elders and traditional communities across Australia is at the centre of all NAISDA learning. Our cultural residency program informs the development of contemporary Indigenous dance in Australia, and offers practicing artists further support to cultivate their professional career. It is also a unique opportunity for developing artists to build on their traditional knowledge by travelling to remote communities where they can dance ‘on country’ and learn firsthand from Elders and cultural tutors.

We believe NAISDA Dance College is more than just a training college. It is a gathering place for people to come together and celebrate cultural values and identity. It is a place to commemorate significant cultural events and ceremonies. It is a place of connection where we can exchange ideals and learn from one another in the spirit of reconciliation, cultural affirmation & inclusion. It is a place where we dare to dance and tell the stories that cannot be told unless we move.

NAISDA is a rich place of learning and cultural connection… and continues to create tremendous young artists and I’m proud to say many are an integral part of today’s Bangarra. – STEPHEN PAGE Artistic Director, Bangarra Dance Theatre

Naya Wa Yugali

(we dance).