Episode Details

Carly Sheppard, a choreographer of Takalaka heritage, returns to dance with her powerful new work “The Shepherds,” a ritualistic ceremony exploring identity, belonging, and colonial trauma. Inspired by a chance meeting with co-choreographer Alisdair Macindoe — whose surname sparked a conversation about shepherding — the piece delves into religious trauma, cultural dislocation, and the legacy of Indigenous subjugation. Sheppard, who feels like an “orphan of the colony,” uses dance to reclaim her story as a settler in Melbourne, while Macindoe reflects on his own place in the narrative. Presented as a fictional cult’s ritual, the performance transforms the stage into an immersive, ceremonial space. This marks a personal and professional renaissance for Sheppard, who had previously moved away from dance into experimental performance. Her inclusion in the Australian Dance Biennale — a full-circle moment on Kulin Nations land — fuels her hope for greater Indigenous representation and evolving collaboration in future editions.

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