Dancenorth Australia will present the seventh chapter of its acclaimed Tomorrow Makers series, featuring six original dance works at its Gurambilbarra (Townsville) base this May.
The renowned North Queensland-based dance company continues to invest in dance research and innovation by empowering its Ensemble members to shape original works that redefine contemporary dance.
Tomorrow Makers provides a distinctive platform for Ensemble members to develop their individual artistry, bringing fresh performances to life with full production support in a collaborative, nurturing setting.
Dancenorth’s Co-Artistic Director and Tomorrow Makers curator, Amber Haines, describes the series as an annual highlight for the Company.
“It feels vital to the future of dance that established companies actively create space for emerging artists to make work,” said Haines.
“With the independent sector under immense pressure, opportunities for vibrant, resonant, and meaningful voices to engage in full creation processes are becoming increasingly rare.
“Tomorrow Makers not only uplifts our emerging makers but invigorates our broader community. Being privy to the inner workings of these relevant, thoughtful, and wildly talented artists breathes new life into local audiences – they relish its freshness and immediacy,” Haines said.
Award-winning artist and Dancenorth Ensemble member, Michael Smith, says the Tomorrow Makers series plays a pivotal role in the development of new work and professional careers.
“Tomorrow Makers is an extremely important program. There isn’t anything quite like it,” said Smith.
“It’s a rare opportunity to be gifted time to delve into an area of interest without having to meet grant criteria or a company’s expectations. The freedom to interrogate, play, fail and grow enables the creation of work we perhaps wouldn’t have had the courage, or permission, to create in other contexts.
“In a lot of ways, this program is preparing us for what is to come as independent artists. If I were offered a commission for a new work on a company or for a venue, I know I could deliver a work from seed idea to full production because of the experience gleaned through Tomorrow Makers,” Smith said.
As a result of artist residency and creative development programs like Dancenorth’s Tomorrow Makers, Smith’s independent works have featured in major Australian Arts Festivals, as well as TanzZeit in Berlin and AGITART Figueres Festival MOU in Spain.
Smith describes the work he’s developing for Tomorrow Makers 7 as a continuation of his journey to liberate Queerness, celebrate authenticity and promote love.
“In the midst of troubling times, this work is both a cathartic release and an invitation to open — a process of letting go of what no longer serves the self to move towards collective empowerment,” said Smith.
Catch Tomorrow Makers 7 at the Dancenorth Theatre from 22-24 May 2025. For more details and tickets, visit dancenorth.com.au/works/tomorrow-makers-7.
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