Dancenorth Australia

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲? 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗪𝗢

Alisdair Macindoe offers a glimpse into the creativity and innovation that underpin his latest work, Plagiary.

“Humans have been using the most up-to-date tools to express ourselves creatively for ever, and I am proud to continue that tradition. I am making art about the world I am in, using the tools and objects of that world.”

Experience this fast, funny and thought-provoking fusion of art and technology this 16–18 July at the Dancenorth Theatre.

Tickets are on sale now. For more details and to book, visit https://dancenorth.com.au/works/plagiary

~

Images by Aaron Ashley and Amber Haines
Pictured: Tiana Lung, Felix Sampson, Marlo Benjamin and Niharika Senapati

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀, our programs provide valuable time, space and support to explore new ideas, or put the finishing touches on work before presentation.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, exciting new works are being generated right here in North Queensland. This year, three of the five works presented by Dancenorth were born from our Regional Gravitation program – Chris Dyke’s Lighting the Dark (touring nationally), Alisdair Macindoe’s Plagiary (16-18 July); and Michelle Heaven’s Sleepless Ones (premiering at NAFA this October).

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, the impact of these programs is spilling beyond our building and into local businesses. In 2025, the programs generated $199,000 in overnight visitor expenditure for Gurambilbarra (Townsville), and work developed in our building has made its way into other artistic programs including RISING; NAFA, and Umbrella Studio’s Pop-Up North Queensland (PUNQ) Festival.

We are immensely proud of the creative tendrils spreading from these programs.

And we are eager to nurture them into the future.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝘅-𝗱𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝟯𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲.

Every donation to Dancenorth supports our three key pillars: New Work + Touring; Artist Development programs; and Community Experience offerings. Together, these programs deliver immeasurable (but undeniable) artistic, social and economic impact for the communities we serve.

Donations can be made via our website - https://dancenorth.com.au/support-us

Last week, Dancenorth hosted 25 young and emerging dance artists for our annual Secondment Week.

Our Secondment Week Program is one of the ways we nurture the next generation of dance artists, and each year its participants reaffirm our belief that the future of dance is in safe and gentle hands.

Earlier this month, Dancenorth joined Aunty Rosalind Sailor and Linda Oliver for a micro-residency in Mitakoodi Country and surrounding regions (Cloncurry, Julia Creek and Dajarra) of North West Queensland.

Over three days, we danced with 135 locals across nine free workshops including in schools, at the Shire Hall and at a Seniors' Morning Tea.

It was a joy to meet with so many people across the region and be reminded - yet again - that we all speak the language of dance.

If you've been to one of our regular classes recently, you may have already met Dancenorth's new Community Class & Workshop Coordinator, Bella Hood.

Bella is a contemporary dance artist, teacher, choreographer, and community facilitator. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance Performance) with First Class Honours from Queensland University of Technology and has worked professionally across performance, teaching, and community engagement for nearly a decade.

Bella was a Company Dancer with Australasian Dance Collective from 2017–2020 and has continued working extensively as an independent artist, teacher, and maker across Australia, alongside creating and presenting work through Kin dance company.

In addition to performing, Bella has experience teaching contemporary dance, improvisation, and yoga with professional dancers, youth, mature-aged participants, and community groups throughout Queensland. Her practice explores the intelligence of the body and our vital relationship to one another as part of a larger living ecosystem.

Bella is also a practicing Zenthai Shiatsu therapist and enjoys multi-day hikes, studying nutritional medicine, and getting her hands dirty in the garden.

CREDIT: Image by Tszar

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲? 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗡𝗘

Alisdair Macindoe offers a glimpse into the creativity and innovation that underpin his latest work, Plagiary.

“Plagiary, and the systems that underpin it, were built over many periods of research, coding, experimentation, and play. I’m fascinated by the relationship between written, spoken and physical language, and find the translation really interesting.”

Experience this fast, funny and thought-provoking fusion of art and technology this 16-18 July at the Dancenorth Theatre.

Tickets are on sale now. For more details and to book, visit https://dancenorth.com.au/works/plagiary

~

Images by Aaron Ashley and Amber Haines
Pictured: Aleeya McFadyen-Rew, Tiana Lung, Felix Sampson, Michael Smith, Marlo Benjamin and Nelson Earl

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆-𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 – 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲.

In the past decade we’ve created 21 original mainstage works, that have been performed at more than 55 Major Festivals and venues across Australia; and 17 locations internationally.

From a sunrise sound bath for just 21 people each morning to a stadium show for the opening of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, our works range from the intimate to the epic.

In 2027, we’ll debut our next major work – the last created by co-Artistic Directors Amber Haines and Kyle Page before their time at Dancenorth comes to close. Galaxia will be performed beneath a celestial canopy of 20,000 nano-LEDs – a reminder that we all move beneath the vastness of the same sky.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗤, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝘅-𝗱𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝟯𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲.

Every donation to Dancenorth supports our three key pillars: New Work + Touring; Artist Development programs; and Community Experience offerings. Together, these programs deliver immeasurable (but undeniable) artistic, social and economic impact for the communities we serve.

Donations can be made via our website – https://dancenorth.com.au/support-us

What an incredible season of RED at RISING Festival so far.

“Spell-binding”
“A work that should not be missed.”
- Suzanne Conway, ARTSHUB

We recognise RED carries an emotional weight; and we are grateful for the openness and courage with which people are meeting this work.

Just 3 shows remain. Tickets are limited. Book now via https://2026.rising.melbourne/program/red

~

Image by David Kelly 2023
Featuring Michael Smith

Thanks to ABC North Queensland for this yarn with Aunty Ros about our time in Mitakoodi Country and surrounding regions (Cloncurry, Julia Creek and Dajarra) this week.

In all, we got to share the universal language of dance with 135 people, in 9 workshops, over 3 days.

Listen to Aunty share more with Mornings presenter Susan Graham-Ryan here: https://tinyurl.com/y834tue6

✨ DANCING ON COUNTRY AND FINDING CONNECTION ✨

Communities across North West Queensland have been moving a little differently this week.

Kids, seniors and everyone in between took part in dance and movement workshops across Cloncurry, Julia Creek and Dajarra, led by Rosalind Sailor and Linda Oliver who belong to the historical groups of the Mitakoodi nations.

“Bringing home something like this is so valuable and important,” Ms Sailor told QLD Mornings host Susan Graham-Ryan.

“This is something children out this way never get to see.”

Ms Sailor and Ms Oliver conducted the workshops across Mitakoodi Country as part of a micro-residency with renowned dance company, Dancenorth Australia. The pair were joined by Dancenorth ensemble members Damian Meredith, Felix Sampson, Tiana Lung, Aleeya McFadyen-Rew and Jag Popham.

Ms Sailor said it was a joy to collaborate with the renowned company and share what dance can mean.

“We wanted to leave a taste of what dance means and that it is a language for all, no matter what background we all come from,” she said.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms Sailor said she hopes to do it again and keep inspiring children in regional and remote areas to know “there are greater and bigger things out there to pursue.”

“Planting that seed, that’s how I see it.”

🎧 Listen back to the broadcast via the ABC listen app or here: https://tinyurl.com/y834tue6

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.

Some highlights from last year include:
👉🏽 Presenting 7 new works
👉🏽 Continuing development on an additional 2 new works
👉🏽 Employing 86 artists and arts workers, primarily at our homebase in regional North Queensland
👉🏽 Hosting 54 Secondments and interns
👉🏽 Reaching a total audience of 2,746 people in Gurambilbarra (Townsville) and across Australia; and
👉🏽Sharing free classes, workshops, and experiences with 8,452 people, mostly in regional, rural and remote North Queensland.

𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱.

Every donation to Dancenorth supports our three key pillars: New Work + Touring; Artist Development programs; and Community Experience offerings. Together, these programs deliver immeasurable (but undeniable) artistic, social and economic impact for the communities we serve.

If you’ve enjoyed our work, please consider making a tax-deductible donation before 30 June. It’s not just a gift, but an investment in a more creative, connected and compassionate world.

Donations can be made via our website: https://dancenorth.com.au/support-us