Inaugural SDC/Balnaves Artist in Residence

The Balnaves Foundation and Sydney Dance Company have announced an exciting new initiative for emerging choreographers: the Balnaves Foundation Artist in Residence.

Recipients of the residency will be given the opportunity to work with all departments of SDC on-site for one year. 

The inaugural recipient is choreographer, dancer and Tagalaka Aboriginal woman, Jasmine Sheppard.

Sheppard was part of SDC’s New Breed season in 2021, creating the critically acclaimed work, Given Unto Thee. Previously she was a dancer with Bangarra Dance Theatre for 12 years. She premiered her first full length work The Complication of Lyrebirds in 2021 at Sydney Festival, which was recently shared with new audiences as part of SDC’S 2023 INDance.

Sheppard will gain unparalleled industry experience by exposing her to a complete artistic, production and administrative cycle within Australia’s pre-eminent contemporary dance company. 

She will be able to continue her own artistic practice and development, whilst being embedded within the fast-paced SDC environment, providing networking opportunities, guidance and practical assistance: all facilitating her artistic growth and professional development as an emerging choreographer. 

SDC and The Balnaves Foundation have been supporting emerging choreographers for a decade with the New Breed season held at Carriageworks each year, and are proud to continue their commitment to the future of Australian contemporary dance through this important new initiative.

The Balnaves Foundation is a private philanthropic organisation established in 2006 by Neil Balnaves AO to provide support to charitable enterprises across Australia. The Foundation disperses $3 million annually to not-for-profit organisations.

 “Thank you to The Balnaves Foundation for supporting New Breed, and now the Artist in Residence position. These opportunities are so vital for independent artists to explore what is possible for our choreographic practice,” Sheppard says.