Indigenous Traditional Dance (ITD) Project

The ITD project follows from the Indigenous Performing Arts Brokerage Project (IPAB) which gave intensive support to two Aboriginal dance groups from Central Australia. In the IPAB (June 2006 – Dec 2006) there were 6 funded and supported Dance events including: Desert Mob Dancesite, Desart in the Park, Desert Knowledge Symposium, Wurrpurrjinta Cultural Exchange, Day of Difference fund raiser and the tour to the World Deserts Foundations International Festival of Desert People and Cultures in Algeria.

From 2007 onwards, Artback NT, with support from Arts NT and the Australia Council for the Arts has worked to conduct research and consultation with Aboriginal art centres and dance groups throughout Central Australia. This has lead to strategic documentation and planning to promote a coordinated approach to cultural maintenance, traditional dance activities and performance opportunities for Aboriginal traditional dance groups across the tri-state border region of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.

The purpose of the ITD project is to promote cultural maintenance and exchange in relation to traditional dance. These exchanges encourage art centres and dance groups to invite neighboring communities and language groups to come together to share their knowledge and understanding of traditional dance practices from their regions. The ITD project provides community cultural development support, facilitates and organises performance opportunities and provides links and information sharing between Indigenous traditional dance projects, communities and contemporary dance and theatre initiatives.

ITDP 2007-09 funding was through the Northern Territory Government Arts NT Building Strong Arts Business Program.

Artback NT works in partnership with many organisations to develop and deliver the ITDP, including Akeyulerre Inc, Tjanpi Desert Weavers and Alice Springs Desert Festival.

Funding for the 2010 program has been provided by the Aboriginal Benefit Account (FaHCSIA).

Forums for 2010 will be held in the following regional and remote communities:

Iwantja, South Australia

Ali Curung, Northern Territory

Papulankutja, Western Australia

2009 DanceSite Photos by Rusty Stewart

Photo of Djilpin Dancer by Peter Eve

Desert Mob DanceSite - Tennant Creek

August 2010

In 2010, Artback NT will again present its successful DanceSite event in a dramatic new location as the finale for the Desert Harmony Festival in Tennant Creek.

It is anticipated that 2010 will be even more spectacular than the 2009 event, stay tuned for regular updates about performers and which communities will be participating.

Watermark

A reflection on the 10th anniversary of the 1998 Australia Day Flood. Alana Valentine and the Katherine community

"The play is not an attempt to recreate the reality of the flood, photographs do that far better than words, but instead to do what plays do best - look at human nature, in this case, under the pressure of natural disaster. Such events illuminate diverse aspects of our humanity and I hope, ten years later, that it will be healing, confronting, amusing and moving to reflect on an event that is an indellible part of Katherine's proud history."
Alana Valentine, January 26, 2008

Following an exceptionally moving and popular public reading, Katherine Regional Arts, Artback NT and Alana Valentine are working together to develop the reading into a theatre production for touring throughout the Northern Territory in 2010.