Wiradjuri and Darkinjung man Kallum Goolagong steps into the spotlight with his powerful new work Metamorphosis.

His first choreographed piece for Dance Clan, it explores themes of transformation, heavily influenced by Zen philosophy and Goolagong's own life experiences. In Metamorphosis, Mr Goolagong invites audiences to reflect on the shifts we all go through—spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

The idea of fluid change, inspired by Zen teachings the artist describes as a profound influence on his thinking, lies at the heart of Metamorphosis.

"The master would constantly be like, 'You're not just shooting a bow, like an arrow out of a bow. There's supposed to be concentration. You shouldn't force the arrow to be shot; it should just be shot, like through everything, just being in a line and a focus of it.'," Goolagong said.

This philosophy of not forcing, but allowing, permeates his choreography. Goolagong applies this to dance by letting the movement come naturally.

"Instead of muscling my body, I should just have a natural flow to it, and that's what makes it look effortless…you're working really hard, but it seems very effortless because you're not putting your body under so much stress and strain," he said.

In Metamorphosis, Goolagong explores the idea of transformation not just as a physical shift, but as a mental and emotional process.

"Everyone goes through it, everyone has their own journey," he said.

"I was really inspired by this idea in books I was reading, where there's a switch from one being to another, from one kind of spirit to another… I wanted to debunk how someone changes from one state to another and sees clarity through different eyes."

Bringing Metamorphosis to life required collaboration, and working with the creative team at Bangarra Dance Theatre has been crucial in helping Goolagong's vision take shape.

"It's been very good, you know, having these conversations that I didn't even know I needed to have," he said.

"The set designers created these big props that kind of give off—not a cocoon—but like a shell, an encasement. It was really cool to see them take my interpretation and come back with something I hadn't even thought of."

Goolagong's journey into dance wasn't planned. Originally training to compete in athletics for the Olympics, he unexpectedly found himself drawn into the world of performing arts.

"To be honest, I kind of just fell into my world really," he said.

"I wasn't expecting it. I ended up at NASDA, and that's where I was introduced to this whole realm of art and performance. That's how I got here."

While he has a rich and diverse background—Wiradjuri, Darkinjung, Mediterranean, Italian, and Irish—his identity is firmly rooted in his Aboriginal culture.

"As much as I know about my other heritage, I pretty much just stick to being Aboriginal," Goolagong said.

"That's my identity, that's how I grew up, and that's how I've been. I'm a very proud Blackfella, and my culture inspires a lot of what I do."

As he prepares for his debut as a choreographer, Goolagong reflects on how much he has learned from the process.

"It's a wicked opportunity for myself, just to see what kind of craft I can produce and to see if I can get my message across in a way that resonates with people," he said.

"I'm hoping it does well enough that Fran might push it to the main stage. That's the goal."

Through Metamorphosis, Goolagong hopes to convey the power of change. His choreography suggests that transformation, much like life itself, cannot be forced—it can only be allowed to happen.

"We can't avoid transformation, but we can embrace it," he said.