Dance Program Starts
Wednesday, 19 March 2008 8:59AM
The Tropical North is stepping to a new beat with the commencement of TAFE Queensland's only Indigenous dance program right here in Cairns.
Ten secondary school students today started their part-time Certificate III in Indigenous Australian Dance Performance studies at Tropical North Queensland TAFE's Cairns campus, under the tutelage of TAFE teacher and former Bangarra Dance Theatre senior performer and rehearsal director Monica Stevens.
The secondary school program provides training in Indigenous and contemporary dance methods and prepares students for careers as professional performing artists.
Institute Director Joann Pyne said the course was a welcome addition to the TAFE schedule and has already helped attract interest for the full-time program commencing later this month.
"The program is the perfect fit for those interested in a performing arts career," Ms Pyne said.
"It provides a great pathway to further training and it's very pleasing to see secondary school students taking such an interest in something so different."
Ms Pyne said the full-time course, the only TAFE program of its kind in Australia, was still taking enrolments.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for far northerners and I encourage anyone with an interest in dance to contact TAFE."
The full-time Indigenous dance program will be delivered five days per week at the Cairns TAFE campus.
Those interested in finding out more about the dance program can contact TAFE's Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies on 4042 2640.
