50 YEARS OF DANCE, CULTURE AND FIRST NATIONS EXCELLENCE.

In 2026, NAISDA Dance College celebrates 50 years of nurturing First Nations performers and sharing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through dance and the performing arts.

Founded in 1976, NAISDA grew from a vision led by choreographer Carole Johnson, who recognised the need for dedicated opportunities for First Nations Australians to train and thrive in the arts.

What began with a small group of students has grown into a nationally recognised training organisation on Darkinjung Country, on the NSW Central Coast. More than 5,000 students have studied there over the past five decades, along with some of the earliest practising artists, Lillian Crombie, Dorathea Randall, Cheryl Stone and Wayne Nicol.

What makes NAISDA special is that its students learn far more than dance technique. Cultural learning is central to their education, with Elders, cultural tutors and Knowledge Holders helping students deepen their understanding of heritage, identity and community.

Students explore both traditional and contemporary dance, bringing First Nations knowledge and creative expression to stages across Australia and beyond.

The impact can be life-changing. For young people, NAISDA offers the chance to build confidence, discover their artistic voice and strengthen their connection to culture. Its graduates go on to become dancers, choreographers, teachers and creative leaders.

Fifty years on, the story continues.

NAISDA's anniversary celebrates not only the artists who have passed through its doors, but also the Elders, cultural leaders, teachers and communities who have helped shape its journey.

It is a reminder that First Nations culture is not simply something to look back on. It is living, evolving and creating new possibilities for future generations.

From traditional dance and storytelling to contemporary performance, these artists are showing that culture can honour the past while continuing to grow.