First Nations Ballet Ensemble
When: 15th - 16th of April 2025 (9 am - 3 pm, see times below)
Where: Danceworks Sydney, 25 Golden Grove St, Darlington (Between Redfern and Newtown
The ELLA Foundation is proud to present the First Nations Ballet Ensemble, a FREE two-day training program for young mob eager to explore the art of classical ballet.
Tiny Tots - Ages 3-6 | 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Juniors - Ages 7-12 | 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Seniors - Ages 13-18 | 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
CelloDance 2.0 - Sydney Fringe Festival
When: 16th - 21st September 2024
Where: Turner Hall, Ultimo, Gadigal Country
Cellodance returns to captivate audiences with a powerful blend of live music and dance. Workshops accompanying the project offered recipients of The ELLA Foundation Scholarship opportunities to explore, learn, and connect with established artists, fostering artistic growth and inspiration.
Performance Collage
Moorambilla Voices
When: 10th of August to 29th of September 2024
Where: Barradine & Dubbo - Wiradjuri Country
Moorambilla voices is a multidisciplinary arts program for children and youth in regional NSW. This year Moorambilla and The ELLA Foundation have partnered to provide opportunities for our Scholarship and Mentoring recipients to audition for this fantastic program. If you are interested please reach out to us on our contact page or head to the Moorambilla Website.
Dance with the Baradambang Dancers and The Australian Ballet
When: 16th - 18th of July 2024
Where: Wagga Wagga PCYC - Wiradjuri Country
Join us for three days of dance and cultural knowledge sharing on Wiradjrui County celebrating and showcasing the talent of youth from the Riverina. Wagga Wagga is a place to gather and dance together, and we’re thrilled to bring The Australian Ballet and the Barramdambang Dancers together to provide this unique learning experience.
Apply Here
Performance Collage
CelloDance
When: 5th of April 2024
Where: 3Danks Street, Waterloo - Gadigal Country
Experience Music and Dance in equal parts. Cellist Paul Ghica presents music ranging from J.S. Bach and Arvo Pärt, to award-winning Australian composer Lance Gurisik. Choreography by Ella Havelka integrating classical and modern dance, showcasing ELLA Foundation Mentors, Mentees and Scholarship Recipients.
First Nations Riverina Dance Ensemble
When: 21st - 22nd March 2024
Where: PCYC Wagga Wagga - Wiradjuri Country
This program provides an opportunity for talented First Nations dance students in Years 7 to 12, from the Riverina area, to extend their skills in dance and connect with culture whilst being mentored by Wiradjuri choreographer Ella Havelka. The ensemble will learn and perform traditional and contemporary dances to original Wiradjuri based soundtracks.
Bhoomi - Place and Belonging
When: Saturday, 24 June 2023
Where: St Ives Showground - Louise Lennon Pavilion - Kuringai Country
Presented and funded by the Gaimaragal Festival, this performance followed by a panel discussion sought to open up a dialogue between First Nations people and the South Asian migrant community living in the Northern Sydney region. The performance allowed for many voices to intersect through movement, music, song and poetry in unity for shared futures.
‘Offering’
When: 3rd - 6th March 2023
Where: Wiradjuri Country - Red Hill Primary School, Wagga Wagga
Created by the Wagga Wagga Art Camp participants, this dance was re-choreographed for a select group of students from Wagga Wagga’s Red Hill Primary School proving them with the opportunity to connect with important Wiradjuri stories and knowledges and share these with the community at local events such as the Riverina Dance Festival.
Performance Collage
Wagga Wagga Art Camp
When: 3rd - 6th March 2023
Where: Wiradjuri Country - Wagga Wagga Art Gallery
Hosted by Wagga Wagga Art Gallery and the Hands On Weavers group, four days of workshops focused on the exhibition ‘mayinyguwalgu ngunggirridyu’ - I will share with other people - connecting local youth with Wiradjuri stories through dance and weaving. Two dance pieces were created, one of which was gifted to Red Hill Primary School to perform at local events.
Wagga Wagga Art Camp Collage
Ghuni-gu Dhalaany (Mother’s Tongue)
When: 12th - 17th February 2023
Where: Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri Country - Melbourne
A collaboration with Play On involving a series of workshops with Ngargee; a First Nations dance group, Real Youth Music Studios and residents of the Collingwood Housing Estate to explore how spoken word, poetry and music intersect with movement to preserve and celebrate languages passed down through ancient bloodlines.
Creative Circle
When: 8th - 11th November 2022
Where: Wiradjuri Country - Wagga Wagga Art Gallery
Supported by The Australian Ballet Education and Outreach Team and the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, the Creative Circle involved a series of on-Country activities that allowed participants to engage in different forms of Wiradjuri story-telling and knowledge-sharing practices. The week culminated in a performance by local youth and The Australian Ballet.
Creative Circle Collage
Brogla Ballet Program
When: 17th May - 14th June 2022
Where: Gadigal Country - Redfern, Sydney
Developed in collaboration with Brolga Dance Academy, Ballet Without Borders and Dance Works Sydney, The Brolga Ballet Program consisted of 5 ballet workshops for First Nations youth ages from 2-18. At the culmination of the program, the Australian Ballet School offered free tickets to a selection of students who attended the ballet workshops.
Brolga Ballet Program Video
Brolga Ballet Program Collage
Wagga Wagga Yarns
When: 25th -27th March - 14th June 2022
Where: Wiradjuri Country - Wagga Wagga
A collective of passionate social change makers met on Wiradjuri Country during Dirramaay | lomandra grass harvest season to connect and learn the traditional art of rope making. Activities involved weaving circles with the Hands On Weavers, cultural walks with local Elders, and discussions on collaborative artistic projects envisioning our shared futures.
Darkinjung Ballet Program
When: 30th April - 28th May 2021
Where: Dakinjung Country - Yarramalong, Central Coast
This program was a collaboration with Ballet Without Borders which allowed the students of Darkinjung Barker College - a 100% First Nations primary school located in Yarramalong on the Central Coast - to learn basic ballet technique and repertoire incorporating First Nations contemporary dance over five consecutive weeks.
Darkinjung Ballet Program Collage
Pilot Program
When: 27th Feb - 07 March 2021
Where: Wiradjuri Country - Orange and Bathurst
Six volunteers from the ELLA Foundation connected with the communities of Orange and Bathurst to deliver dance and weaving workshops, facilitate discussions and gather information about the needs and limitations of understanding First Nations’ cultural safety and responsiveness in the private dance studio sector.
Pilot Program Collage