Daniel Mateo, a dancer in Bangarra Dance Theatre's new mainstage production, 'Horizon,' joined Bangarra in 2021 as a Russell Page graduate from NAISDA Dance College.

Representing the Gamilaroi people of northeast NSW and Ma'ufanga in Tonga, Mr Mateo's journey as a dancer is deeply rooted in his Indigenous heritage.

"My first work with Bangarra was The Spirit Program... Being able to have that as my first production - there was so much knowledge in the space," he said.

"Me being the fresh one that I was, witnessing and taking it all in like a sponge, I could eat it for days.

"It's always nice being an Indigenous artist, telling our stories and making sure we reach a platform where the whole of Australia can hear us."

Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australia's leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts company, recently announced the world premiere of 'Horizon,' their first mainstage cross-cultural collaboration.

"'Horizon' has been, in all the right ways, a tough one," Mr Mateo said.

"The excitement of having two First Nations choreographers... there's been an immense field of knowledge coming through the studios."

The new work by Indigenous choreographers Moss Te Ururangi Patterson and Deborah Brown will debut at the Sydney Opera House in June before touring Australia in 2024.

'Horizon' honours the Indigenous peoples of Oceania, exploring the cultural connections that unite these regions across time and space.

Mr Patterson, a proud descendant of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa tribe, brings extensive experience from Atamira Dance Company and The New Zealand Dance Company.

He has received awards from the Tempo Dance Festival, Toi Māori, and Creative New Zealand.

Mrs Brown, of the Wakaid Clan and Meriam people of the Torres Strait, was a Senior Dancer with Bangarra for thirteen years and won a Helpmann Award for her performance in Terrain.

'Horizon' will feature an expanded version of Saibai Koedal and Samu man Sani Townson's work 'Kulka,' which honours his grandfather and Torres Strait heritage.

Mr Townson has previously collaborated with Qantas, Gondwana Choirs, and other organisations.

Mr Mateo notes the importance of the production and the impact it will have on the audience.

"I think 'Horizon' will have a massive impact once it hits the stages," he said.

"Indigenous people have a history of trauma that needs to be shared and heard.

"But because trauma circles around differently if it goes from one black mouth to another, there's nothing that allows the circle or cycle to be broken."

Beyond dance, Mr Mateo serves as a cultural ambassador through spoken word.

He was a finalist in the Australian Poetry Slam 2021 and competed in the 2022 National Youth Poetry Slam.

He is also a member of the Bankstown Poetry Slam Poets, who recently performed at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on May 15.

"Poetry and spoken word was an avenue that I could express something that was closer to me," he said.

"Also being a brown man, the idea of sharing thoughts, opinions and emotions - I wanted my poetry to open the doors of conversation for the young Indigenous and Tongan people in Australia."

'Horizon' will premiere on Gadigal Country at the Sydney Opera House from 11th June to 13th July.

The production will then move to Ngunnawal Country at the Canberra Theatre Centre from 18th to 20th July, followed by performances in Meanjin at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre from 7th to 17th August.

The tour will conclude on Wurundjeri Country at the Arts Centre Melbourne from 28th August to 7th September.