The First Creatives and Bring A Plate Inclusive Dance Company will take 'Dance Leads to Chaos' across Queensland this spring, bringing professional artists and community performers together in outdoor public spaces.
The work by Bring A Plate Inclusive Dance Company and The First Creatives will be performed in Magandjin (Brisbane), Noosa, Caloundra and Gimuy (Cairns) throughout November.
It follows a Magandjin pilot in 2025 involving more than 60 community performers and 11 professional artists and draws on historic restrictions on dance and artistic expression, including those imposed on First Nations people since colonisation.
The production moves across contemporary, cultural and street dance while placing First Nations stories at its centre and bringing people from different backgrounds together through movement.
Ewamain, Cobble-Cobble, Birri and South-Sea Islander woman and founder, Allirah Fisher, said the work reflected the importance of dance and the way creative expression had been restricted throughout history.
"I feel like we're kind of in a revolution at the moment in terms of our society and where we're going," Ms Fisher said.
"I think this piece of work kind of encompasses that and the importance of dance in our lives, particularly when we reflect on our history of it and it being taken away."
The production also looks at the role of collaboration between First Nations and non-Indigenous artists and organisations.
Ms Fisher said the development process had provided an opportunity for First Nations stories to remain central while people from different cultural backgrounds worked together.
"I think what we are doing, and to be able to see First Nations stories centred and people respecting that that aren't from here and working together in the same space and bringing the same story, is very rare in this country," she said.
"It's definitely been very healing, I think, and helped align people and our purpose."
Bring A Plate Inclusive Dance Company co-founder and artistic director, Erika Jayne Goldsmith, said the production also considered historical attempts to restrict dance and other forms of expression as a way of controlling communities.
The work then brings that history back to the experience of First Nations people in Australia and the role of community and creativity today.
"I feel like the whole show itself is a bit of a call to action to that revolution," Ms Goldsmith said.
"It just feels like a really poignant time, and this is kind of like a call to action to bring people together, to embody creativity as a community."
Local people are also being invited to take part in Dance Leads to Chaos through its Community Cast, with no previous dance experience required.
Participants attend three inclusive workshops in their region before joining professional artists and the wider cast for a rehearsal and public performance.
Ms Goldsmith said the Community Cast had brought together people with different experiences, including people with disability, young people and older participants.
She said dance could provide a space where people learn from each other while recognising their differences.
"If we can create something beautiful together and find commonality, and celebrate each other's differences as well, and also hold space for learning from each other, we can do that just in a dance class," Ms Goldsmith said.
"If I can prove that different people can enjoy dance class together, then I can prove that we can change the world."
Performances will begin at South Bank Piazza in Magandjin on November 1 before travelling to Noosa Botanic Gardens Amphitheatre on November 14, Kings Beach Amphitheatre in Caloundra on November 15 and Fogarty Park in Gimuy on November 29.
Brisbane Community Cast workshops begin on October 12, followed by programs on the Sunshine Coast and in Cairns throughout October and November.
Community Cast registration costs $25, with supported places available, while performance tickets are $10 with Pay What You Can and community ticket options also available.
