Bangarra Dance Theatre is a First Nations organisation, and one of Australia’s leading performing arts companies. We share our culture with Communities and audiences across Australia and the world, in our mission to create inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences that promote awareness and understanding of our cultures.
For over a decade, Bangarra’s engagement with the Education sector has provided valuable support to schools across Australia. The introduction of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority Bill in 2008 represented a significant shift in how the current generation of students learn about First Nation Australian histories and cultures. Our range of educational resources, including our Winhanga-rra teachers’ professional development program and a variety of freely available classroom resources and study guides, provides pathways for teachers and students to develop an awareness of, and respect for, our First Nations people.
Winhanga-rra (hear, think, listen – Wiradjuri language) is our teachers’ professional learning program, and consists of a suite of offerings (face-to-face and online) that explore creative approaches, processes and practices for engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures across the curriculum.
Incorporating presentations, discussion forums and creative tasks, all Winhanga-rra workshops focus on the importance of cultural engagement, the power of storytelling though contemporary dance theatre, and the range of valuable outcomes that can be achieved through creative learning experiences. Winhanga-rra is facilitated by Bangarra alumni and/or current members of the ensemble, each with a proud Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background.
We welcome educators from all curriculum stages as well as First Nations support workers, dance teachers and other educators in the community. Dance experience is not required for any of our workshops.
It has been the start of a journey that is exciting, connected and specific for our children, and we are so very excited to continue developing this work in partnerships with our local Aboriginal Community. I would like to acknowledge the role that Bangarra’s teacher professional learning program - Winhanga-rra – as well as the company’s educational resources have had on the teaching and the learning journey for our staff and students.
Rebecca Cantwell, Roselea Public School, NSW.
Join our Winhanga-rra workshops in studio, online or contact us to create a tailored workshop aligned with your school’s specific professional learning needs.
Visit our website for upcoming workshop dates and locations: https://www.bangarra.com.au/learning/teachers-professional-learning/
Explore our range of classroom resources:
02 9251 5333
