The National Indigenous Dance Forum
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The National Indigenous Dance Forum (NDIF) is a BlakDance gathering, presented in partnership with Yirramboi, First Nations Arts Festival. The NIDF is for all dance communities; cultural and contemporary dancers, community dance groups and independent artists, to gather to discuss our needs in communities across Australia.
The NDIF is part of the Bullarto Wonthaggi (Everyone Gathering Together) program of Yirramboi. It will take place at the Weelan Ngalut (Meat Markets), North Melbourne from Friday, 5th May to Sunday, 7th May 2017.
The NIDF is for people who want to be actively involved in developing a National Action Plan for Indigenous Dance and are willing to work with others from across the country in the coming years to make it happen. It will bring together representatives from as many regions as possible.
“When you come to the National Indigenous Dance Forum, you have to be really clear about what your purpose is, be strong and determined to fulfil that purpose, be aware of where you are and have a sense of place”, Marilyn Miller – Founder of BlakDance says.
The NIDF will enable our communities to
claim control of and enhance thier cultural maintenance and artistic practice in an organised way in the 21st century and beyond.
Whilst some participants will be invited directly, places where also open for people to self nominate through expressing an interest. Expressions of interest closed on the 5 April 2017. The NIDF Steering Committee aim to have a collective group of Indigenous dance representatives actively participating in the forum.
All participants will become members of BlakDance and will be expected to make active contributions in the lead up, during and following on the gathering. BlakDance are the peak body for Indigenous Dance in Australia, their purpose is to support our communities to dance.
The BlakDance membership currently features over 70 independent contemporary choreographers. However, their programs are designed to support all our core Indigenous communities, which are estimated to be over 200 dance groups and 100,000 cultural dancers.
BlakDance was founded by Marilyn Miller and began with Creating Pathways, a National Indigenous Dance Forum held