NAISDA: 50 Years of Transforming Lives Through Dance

0:00This is Sydney News Today, every story, every city, every day. The Indigenous Dance College NAISDA is marking 50 years of transforming lives through dance for First Nations Australians. Founded in 1976 by American dancer Carol Johnson, the school has trained over 5,000 students, including singer Christine Anu. It offers certificates and diplomas in performing arts right there on Australia's central coast. Students blend traditional techniques with modern styles like hip hop, jazz, and ballet. They learn in studios and live in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities guided by elders. This hands-on approach helps them connect deeply with their culture. For many, like first-year Torres Strait Islander student Chitachi Nuaugisa, NAISDA opens up new parts of themselves. He says it turned him from feeling like a shell and to someone fully alive through dance. CEO Kim Walker, an early student, credits the place with giving him purpose after going off the rails as a teen.

1:04The academy started in Sydney suburbs like Redfern and Gleab before settling in Carr Young, New South Wales in 2007. Celebrations there honor pioneers and the cultural work that shaped Indigenous art. Today, NAISDA reaches over 300,000 people yearly through workshops and school programs. Officials say it's a global blueprint, even inspiring a similar institute in Canada. The Daily News Now is presented by our sponsor, linked in the description. What is cooler than cool? A pillow that plays your sound. S-O-L-I-SoliPillo.com