Having the opportunity to spend a day working with professional dancers from Bangarra Dance Theatre is the stuff of dreams for many young dancers.
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But for students from Dubbo College, and seven other regional schools, it was a dream come true last week when they were part of a two-day workshop developed by Bangarra in co-operation with the Department of Education's Arts Unit.
Held in the Dubbo College Senior Campus hall, the workshop was part of the selection process for the NSW State Public Schools' Aboriginal Dance Company.
The Dubbo workshop was one in a series held across the state, with similar events planned in the near future for Moree, Tamworth, Sydney, North Coast and the Riverina.
Last year's workshops in Dubbo yielded two Dubbo College Delroy Campus students, Isaiah Towney and Amberlily Gordon, who went on to be part of the elite 28-strong Aboriginal Dance Company. The 2013 Company performed at the State Dance Festival and the Schools' Spectacular.
"For some students this opportunity can signal the start of a career in the performing arts," Bangarra Rekindling dance leader Patrick Thaiday said.
"Students who are selected for the Aboriginal Dance Company travel to Sydney for a tight schedule of rehearsals to learn the Bangarra repertoire, and then perform at festivals and the Schools' Spectacular.
"Many of these students ultimately go on to NAISDA College, the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association in Gosford.
"From there, some are recruited to Bangarra Dance Theatre."
Department of Education Dubbo-based arts co-ordination officer Dianne Reichelt said more than 90 students from throughout the region attended the Dubbo workshop.
"This is the third year of our partnership with Bangarra and the students really respond positively to the professional dancers," Ms Reichelt said.
"This year we had more high school students involved representing Dubbo College, Coonamble High School, Brewarrina Central, Trangie Central, Bourke High School, Wellington High School, Peak Hill Central and Nyngan High School.
"Workshops will continue throughout the State for the rest of the term and successful students will be contacted by the Arts Unit early in term two."
Further information is available from Dubbo College media officer Robyn Yeo on
(02) 6885 2300 or 0438 852 306.
