Established in 2005 as a direct outcome of the watershed National Indigenous Dance Forum, BlakDance is a national industry organisation for First Nation contemporary dancers and choreographers. BlakDance is based on Turrbal and Yuggera Country in Meanjin (Brisbane) at the Judith Wright Centre. We are a self-determined, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation, governed by a voluntary Board and by a dedicated BlakDance Cultural Council.

Preparing Ground by Marilyn Miller, Jasmin Sheppard & Katina Olsen

Co-Directors & Performers: Marilyn Miller (Kukuyalanji, Waanyi), Jasmin Sheppard (Tagalaka, Kurtitjar) & Katina Olsen (Wakka Wakka, Kombumerri)

Collaborative Understudy: Audrey Goth-Towney (Wiradjuri)
Dramaturg: Victoria Hunt (Te Arawa, Ngati Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata Maori, English, Irish, Finnish)
Lighting Designer: Karen Norris (Moriori Maori)
Set and Projection Designer: Samuel James
Sound Designer: Samuel J Pankhurst
Costume Designer: Aleisa Jelbart
Production Manager: Simon Cook (Mamu), BlakDance
Production Coordinator: Emma Holgate (Mandaburra), BlakDance
Stage Manager: Zara Thompson
Executive Producer: Merindah Donnelly (Wiradjuri), BlakDance
Senior Producer: Nicole Reilly (Wiradyuri), BlakDance - previously Tom Pritchard and Emily Wells (Kamilaroi)
Associate Producer: Luke Peacock (Samsep/Meriam), BlakDance

Early Collaborators: raymond blanco (Yadhaigana and Erub), Yolande Brown (Bidjara), Tammi Gissell (Muruwarri).

On-Country Collaborators:
Kukuyalanji: Uncle John Hartley and Juan Walker
Tagalaka: Patrick Wheeler and Victor Steffenson
Wakka Wakka: Uncle Max Chapman, Aunty Yvonne Chapman, Shirley Olsen, Natalie Chapman, Corey Appo, Shannon Bauwens, Aunty Lurlene Henderson
Kombumerri: Uncle John Graham, Shirley Olsen, Justine Dillon, Maxwell Dillon, Clinton Brewer
Yuggera, Birri, Bindal and Warranghu: Raelene Baker

Community engagement is central to Preparing Ground, with local First Nations knowledge holders guiding actions that deepen connection between audiences and themes explored. Through this dual approach—on stage and within community—the work becomes a vital call to action, urging us all to listen, learn, and take responsibility for our shared future.

BlakDance will supply marketing materials, including marketing copy, digital assets, images & promo footage.

Integral to Preparing Ground is a local First Nations-led community engagement program, negotiated with presenters and their communities. This invites audiences to delve firsthand into the work's key themes, focusing on ongoing connection between land, language, and community.

Example of On-Country Action: In October 2023, a pilot project was conducted on Kombumerri Country, where the team worked directly with rangers from the Ngarang-Wal Gold Coast Aboriginal Association to learn about traditional landcare practices. This hands-on experience grounded the development of the work, with insights from the rangers shaping its focus on cultural resilience and survival.

Example of engagement proposed for Brisbane Festival: Set prior to the performance, a curated installation immerses audiences in years of research and development behind the work. Through captivating footage of Country, interviews with Elders and knowledgeholders and an array of documentation from the creative process, the installation offers an intimate window into the project’s roots in community and cultural wisdom. It’s an opportunity to reflect - on the vital relationships between land, language, and people, which inform the work’s choreography and design. The installation becomes not only a prelude to performance but an important part of the experience, enriching their understanding and connection to the content on-stage.