National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association
Encyclopedia
The National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College was established in 1975 to train Indigenous Australians
in dance.
It is based in Gosford
's Mount Penang Gardens on the Central Coast
of New South Wales
. Graduates have worked in the performing arts
: arts management, dance, music, theatre and film, both at the elite and community level. The Bangarra Dance Theatre
developed from NAISDA.
NAISDA is funded as a "Centre of Excellence" by the Australian Government
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and is supported by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Government of New South Wales
Arts Ministry. NAISDA is a registered training organisation
and offers Certificates II, III and IV and a Diploma in Careers in Dance. It is a member of the "Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence".
NAISDA was the subject of an ABC TV documentary From Dreamtime to Dance broadcast in 2002.
was the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre
(AIDT). This company formed out of the Professional Development arm of NAISDA and was responsible for most performance requests of the organisation. AIDT toured nationally and internationally becoming known as Australia's most toured dance company for two years.
When Indigenous community members decided that an Indigenous person should take over the reins of the organisation, the then Executive Officer, Ms Carole Johnson decided to form a professional dance company outside NAISDA with AIDT remained a part of the NAISDA under the Artistic Direction of Mr Raymond D. Blanco.
AIDT disbanded following the departure of Mr Blanco in 1998. Ms Johnson's company went on to become Bangarra Dance Theatre
.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
in dance.
It is based in Gosford
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
's Mount Penang Gardens on the Central Coast
Central Coast, New South Wales
The Central Coast is an urban region in the Australian state of New South Wales, located on the coast north of Sydney and south of Lake Macquarie....
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Graduates have worked in the performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
: arts management, dance, music, theatre and film, both at the elite and community level. The Bangarra Dance Theatre
Bangarra Dance Theatre
Bangarra Dance Theatre is an Indigenous Australian contemporary dance company founded in 1989 by Carole Johnson, an African-American and founding director of National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association . Bangarra is the Wiradjuri word meaning "to make fire".Stephen Page has been the...
developed from NAISDA.
NAISDA is funded as a "Centre of Excellence" by the Australian Government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and is supported by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Government of New South Wales
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
Arts Ministry. NAISDA is a registered training organisation
Registered training organisation
A registered training organisation in Australia, is a vocational education organisation that provides students with training that results in qualifications and statements of attainment that are recognised and accepted by industry and other educational institutions throughout Australia.Registered...
and offers Certificates II, III and IV and a Diploma in Careers in Dance. It is a member of the "Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence".
NAISDA was the subject of an ABC TV documentary From Dreamtime to Dance broadcast in 2002.
Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre (1976 to 1998)
The first contemporary indigenous Australian dance companyDance company
A dance troupe or dance company is a group of dancers and associated personnel who work together to perform dances as a spectacle or entertainment.-Members:*Artistic Director*Choreographers*Dancers*Board of Directors*Education administrator...
was the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre
Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre
Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre was the first theatre used to train Aboriginal and Islander students on their dancing career. It operates from 1976 to 1998. Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre developed the careers in dance course at first in Australia....
(AIDT). This company formed out of the Professional Development arm of NAISDA and was responsible for most performance requests of the organisation. AIDT toured nationally and internationally becoming known as Australia's most toured dance company for two years.
When Indigenous community members decided that an Indigenous person should take over the reins of the organisation, the then Executive Officer, Ms Carole Johnson decided to form a professional dance company outside NAISDA with AIDT remained a part of the NAISDA under the Artistic Direction of Mr Raymond D. Blanco.
AIDT disbanded following the departure of Mr Blanco in 1998. Ms Johnson's company went on to become Bangarra Dance Theatre
Bangarra Dance Theatre
Bangarra Dance Theatre is an Indigenous Australian contemporary dance company founded in 1989 by Carole Johnson, an African-American and founding director of National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association . Bangarra is the Wiradjuri word meaning "to make fire".Stephen Page has been the...
.