Dance Mentor: Kassidy Waters

Kassidy Waters is a dancer with Bangarra Dance Theatre, an internationally renowned contemporary Indigenous dance company based in Sydney, Australia. Bangarra is known for its powerful and evocative performances which draw on Indigenous culture and storytelling to create a unique and inspiring dance experience.

Kassidy is a descendant of the Wonnarua Nation and grew up in regional New South Wales. She began dancing at a young age and was immediately drawn to the expressive and emotional nature of dance.

In 2012, Kassidy was successful in joining the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company, created in partnership with Bangarra Dance Theatre and The Arts Unit. There, she discovered Bangarra and was captivated by the company's fusion of Indigenous culture and contemporary dance. She trained for four years at the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA Dance College) in a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance and culture, classical, modern and contemporary dance, then completed Sydney Dance Company’s Pre Professional Year of 2017. In 2019, Kassidy joined Bangarra as a Company Dancer and quickly established herself as a talented and dedicated member of the company.

She has performed in several of Bangarra's productions, including the critically acclaimed SandSong: Stories from the Great Sandy Desert, which premiered in 2020. SandSong is a consultation between Bangarra and the Wangkatjungka/Walmajarri People of the Kimberley and Great Sandy Desert Region of Australia. The production tells the story of the People’s fight for their land and culture against the forces of colonisation and industrialisation. A part of the ensemble cast, Kassidy played a key role in bringing the story to life through dance.

Beyond Bangarra, Kassidy is passionate about using dance as a tool for educating, empowering and continuing culture. She has worked extensively with youth nationally and internationally as well as many different projects, performance works and artists. She believes that dance has the power to break down barriers and unite people.

Bangarra Dance Theatre was established in 1989 by NAISDA (National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association) Dance College founder Carole Y. Johnson and NAISDA alumni Rob Bryant and Cheryl Stone. Stephen Page was Bangarra’s artistic director for 32 years.

The company is committed to showcasing the richness and diversity of Indigenous culture through dance and storytelling.

The dance theatre has toured extensively both nationally and internationally, sharing its unique brand of contemporary Indigenous dance with audiences around the world. Bangarra has performed at prestigious venues including Sydney Opera House, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and London’s Royal Opera House. In addition to its performance work, Bangarra is committed to community outreach and engagement. The company runs several education and outreach programs, including a dance training program for Indigenous youth, and works with Indigenous communities across Australia to share and celebrate culture through dance.

Kassidy is just one of the many talented dancers who have been drawn to Bangarra's unique blend of culture and contemporary dance.

Bangarra Dance Theatre remains a trailblazer in the world of contemporary dance and as Kassidy continues to evolve as an artist, it is clear that her contributions to Bangarra and the wider world of dance will only continue to become more significant.

She is a rising star to watch out for in the dance world.

Written by JACK BAILEY