ABSTRACT
It may be a ‘new’ country in terms of European settlement, but Australia is believed to have the oldest form of continuously practised dance. It goes back at least 65,000 years as an integral part of the Indigenous culture and is still being passed on to new generations. Excitingly, it has also become the basis of contemporary dance in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander choreographers follow guidelines from Indigenous elders as they strike out in new directions. This is the only form of dance, old or new, that Australia can claim as its own. Australia’s isolation, both on the globe and the distance between its population centres, turns out to be something of an advantage to creativity. Australian dance has always been richly endowed with individuals. This chapter will explore Australia’s evolving dance scene, drawing on examples of choreography from major companies to innovative independent artists.
