INDIGENOUS DANCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN NSW

Proposal submitted to Arts NSW from Australian Dance Council - Ausdance NSW Inc February 2008

The purpose of the Indigenous Dance Development Strategy proposal, submitted to Arts NSW, is to illustrate how Ausdance NSW proposes to develop an Indigenous Dance Support facility within the Australian Dance Council - Ausdance NSW Inc structure. This will provide the capacity to deliver a sustainable Indigenous dance development program for NSW with concentrated sector focus on youth, tertiary graduates, professional practitioners and regional community sectors.

The proposal aims to demonstrate the need for a newly created centralised part-time position of NSW Indigenous Dance Coordinator operating within the Ausdance NSW structure to develop, implement and evaluate the initial 2008 Indigenous dance pilot program for NSW. The NSW Indigenous Dance Strategic Plan 2008-2010 outlines a range of dance development initiatives and identifies the need to establish key partnerships working collaboratively to establish ‘pathways’ for Indigenous dance artists and ensure long term sustainability of the program.

The appointment of a NSW Indigenous Dance Coordinator will provide the capacity to deliver a sustainable state–wide indigenous dance development program working with youth, tertiary graduates, professional practitioners and regional communities. The program will establish vital connections and long-term partnerships with key training organisations, existing national strategies ‘Treading the Pathways’, city and regional cultural venues and organisations, city-based and specific regional communities.

The proposal has arisen from the need to establish an ongoing, sustainable state- wide program of indigenous dance development initiatives and proposes to create an initial twelve month pilot program for evaluation, encompassing sector focus on tertiary institutions graduates, youth and professional Indigenous dance practitioners in regional communities.

With the provision of an Indigenous Dance Coordinator within the Ausdance NSW structure Indigenous dance will be in a stronger position to grow as a recognised industry with cultural, artistic and economic value. The position will enable the establishment of key relationships with local and remote indigenous communities and provide valuable skills development and employment pathways to city based and regional Indigenous dance practitioners.

The proposal aims to benefit the Indigenous dance sector in NSW in the following ways:

Increase employment opportunities within the Indigenous dance sector

• Employment of a highly skilled Indigenous Dance Coordinator within Ausdance NSW
• Identifying and providing employment opportunities for the Indigenous dance sector
• Creating a centralised register of professional Indigenous dance practitioners, dance groups, schools and tertiary graduates residing in NSW
• Connect targeted sector focus groups with professional opportunities and programs.

Increase skills attainment and professional development by Indigenous dance artists

• Provision of mentoring and support for tertiary graduates
• Skills and development training of young indigenous people in the areas of dance performance and choreography.
• Dance development and residencies in regional communities.
• Promote participation of contemporary dance in city based and regional communities.

Increase support structure and sustainability for the Indigenous dance sector

• Establishing a centralised coordinator for Indigenous dance activity in NSW
• Sourcing key partners and managing sensitive stakeholder relationships and protocols
• Industry peak body representation for lobbying and advocacy
• Provision of administration and financial support

REGIONAL DANCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN NSW

Strategy for submission as part of Ausdance NSW Strategic Framework 2009-11

As the peak organisation for dance, Ausdance NSW proposes to implement a three year pilot Regional Dance Strategy to support dance development in NSW. The focused strategy will be supported by a new position within the Australian Dance Council - Ausdance NSW Inc structure, a Regional Dance Project Manager. The strategy will establish a range of partnerships within and beyond the dance sector. It proposes three strategic initiatives (with support from Regional Arts NSW) which directly support the Arts NSW Strategic Plan (2007-2011) and the Department of Arts, Sports and Recreation Corporate Plan (2007-2011).

The Ausdance NSW Regional Dance Development Strategy will establish three strategic initiatives and will include Dance Partners/Initiatives: supporting community cohesion and capacity. This initiative will support the development of dance partnership projects located in four NSW regions in consultation with the RADO network and other strategic partners.

This proposal will demonstrate the need for a newly created position of Regional Dance Project Manager operating within the Ausdance NSW structure to develop, implement and evaluate each year of the 2009-2011 regional dance strategy for NSW. The Regional Dance Strategic Plan 2009-2011 outlines a range of dance development initiatives and identifies the need to establish key partnerships working collaboratively to establish sustainable work practices for dance artists and ensure long-term sustainability of the strategy.

Ausdance NSW is well positioned to implement and achieve tangible outcomes for regional dance development in NSW and would provide a vital centralised network and office infrastructure for the proposed newly created position of Regional Dance Project Manager. The Regional Dance Project Manager will work within the Ausdance NSW Strategic plan and report to the Director, Ausdance NSW.