Bangarra Dance Theatre has announced an exciting new cultural exchange between London-based company, Artistry Youth Dance (AYD) and Bangarra Dance Theatre's Youth and Education Program.
The exchange is to take place in Australia in August 2026, with a reciprocal visit to the United Kingdom planned in 2027.
Launched in 2013, AYD supports young people of African and Caribbean heritage based in the United Kingdom. Through a world-class training programme, it leads the way in creating opportunities for young Black dancers, working to nurture a richer and more culturally diverse dance community in the UK.
The exchange will bring together young Black dancers from the UK and young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from Australia.
AYD participants will learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture, while sharing their own cultural heritage. Participants from the two companies will also explore similarities in identity and expression and create two new collaborative dance works.
The aim is to empower young artists, strengthen artistic talents, foster cultural understanding, and create lasting international collaboration in the youth dance sector.
Bangarra has chosen 10 young people (3 male and 7 female) from a range of Country and Mob in New South Wales and Queensland. The young people, selected from Bangarra's Youth and Education Programs, have been chosen for their commitment and dedication.
Bangarra and AYD students will spend a week at Bangarra's Studios in Walsh Bay where they will experience cultural dance workshops led by cultural leader, Muruwari man Matthew Doyle.
Over the week they will create a combined piece of choreography exploring who they are, where they come from and what this means in the world today.
Over the company's 37-year history, Bangarra has grown its Youth and Education programs into a strong platform for young First Nations people to connect to Story, movement, Culture and Country - building pride, strength and confidence through cultural expression and creativity.
"We have long admired Artistry Youth Dance's commitment to empowering young people of African and Caribbean heritage through dance and creative practice," Bangarra director of Youth and Education Programs, Sidney Saltner, said.
"This program is driven by our shared passion and commitment to expand access and opportunities for youth and their communities through meaningful exchange and collaboration."
Artistry Youth Dance founder and artistic director,Kamara Gray, said AYD is thrilled to have received support from Bangarra Dance Theatre.
"We are proud to have received support for this cultural exchange with Bangarra's Youth and Education Program," she said.
"It is an honour to collaborate with an organisation so integral to Australia's cultural heritage and to create this opportunity for young people from both organisations to work together, and develop their skills as the next generation of cultural artists."
Artistry Youth Dance has been supported for this project by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
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