NAFA

Indigenous art celebrated as part of NAFA COVID Safe

Delve into the art, music, and culture of Townsville’s Indigenous community when Townsville City Council presents A Celebration of Dance this Saturday.

Produced in collaboration with Big Eye Theatre, A Celebration of Dance is a one-night-only performance as part of NAFA COVID Safe.

Community and Cultural Development Committee chairperson Ann-Maree Greaney said the performance was well worth seeing.

“A Celebration of Dance is a real showcase of our region’s incredible first nations culture,” Cr Greaney said. “We’re lucky here in Townsville to have incredible groups like Big Eye Theatre who are able to deliver cultural performances that embrace, promote and educate the wider community with first nations dance and music. This performance is free to attend, but capacity is limited and bookings are essential for COVID contact tracing, which helps keep our community safe.”

A Celebration of Dance runs from 6 pm to 8.30 pm at Dancenorth on the corner of Stanley and Walker streets this Saturday, 31 October.

To book your free tickets, head to acelebrationofdance.eventbrite.com.au.

North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA): Wonderland Under the Stars

Wonderland Under the Stars set to dazzle at NAFA COVID Safe

Strand Park will transform into a 1950’s style open-air theatre when Wonderland Spiegeltent’s Wonderland Under the Stars opens next month as part of the North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) COVID Safe.

Running across two huge weeks, Wonderland Under the Stars will include performances from international acclaimed Casus Circus with their show Knee Deep and ARIA Hall of Fame recipient Russell Morris and Queensland icons Busby Marou.

Wonderland Spiegeltent director Melissa Head said she was excited to transform the Wonderland Spiegeltent experience.

“We’ve been experimenting with an outdoor live high wire act for a little while now, and with COVID-19 it has fast-forwarded ways we can present. It’s given us the perfect excuse to turn the whole show into an open-air magical experience,” Ms Head said.

“I have wanted to produce an open-air event for quite a while, as I love the atmosphere and the backdrop of stunning North Queensland sunsets.”

Ms Head said families were in for plenty of fun with the outdoor experience.

“Part of the ethos of Wonderland Spiegeltent has always been to create a magical escape for audiences through live performance. Casus Circus is mind-blowing and will have everyone, young and old, marveling at superhuman, acrobatic feats,” she said. “Also for the families, there will be outdoor movie nights and carnival favorites too – freshly spun fairy floss and hot popcorn with The Wave Swinger amusement ride and more.”

Ms. Head said she anticipated great audience turnout for Wonderland Under the Stars.

“The thirst for live entertainment by both audience members and performers is currently stronger than ever. Entertainment feeds the soul and we can connect the audience in an open-air, COVID-safe way,” she said.

Community and Cultural Development Committee chairperson, Ann-Maree Greaney, said Wonderland Under the Stars was an event that was not to be missed.

“The Wonderland Spiegeltent team does an incredible job transforming Strand Park, and I’m sure they are going to do a spectacular job of turning the space into Wonderland Under the Stars,” Cr Greaney said.

“This is just one of many events that will activate different suburbs and bring visitors into our beautiful city to enjoy more than five weeks of art and entertainment.”

 

NAFA COVID Safe is delivered by Townsville City Council and supported by the Queensland Government and Tourism & Events Queensland and runs from 18 September to 25 October.

 

Tickets for Wonderland Under the Stars are on sale now. To book your tickets, head to nafa-tsv.com.au.