Jannawi Dance Clan is a First Nations intergenerational dance collective based in Western Sydney. Founded in 2008 by Artistic Director Peta Strachan, Jannawi meaning ‘with me, with you’ in Dharug language, centres on Indigenous storytelling through dance and performance, embodied language revitalisation, traditional movement and new forms. Jannawi celebrates the strength, resilience and stories of Aboriginal people in NSW. Community, identity and culture are strong values in their practice with a large commitment to revitalise language and heighten the voices of Darug peoples and histories. Jannawi is the only Sydney dance group led by Dharug custodians and community. Jannawi performs and teaches to inspire other Indigenous people to practise cultural values and identities. Committed to honour and share knowledge, they encourage awareness and understanding of the world’s oldest living Indigenous culture. Jannawi has a rich artistic body of critical, relevant work & is highly regarded. They are regularly called on to represent Dharug culture at prestigious First Nations and mainstream cultural events including; the 16th Annual Coastal Dance Festival 2023 in Canada; 22nd Biennale of Sydney presented by the MCA; Dance Rites at the Sydney Opera House; FIFA Women's World Cup 2023; Sydney Festival 2020; Fire Fight Australia; ANZ Stadium; as well as regular ceremony performances for Survival Day - Yabun Festival and Wagan-ma-gule, Morning Ceremony at Sydney’s Botanical Gardens.

Peta Strachan is a Dharug woman from the Boorooberongal Clan, she has been working in the performance space for 35 years as a multi-disciplinary dancer. During Strachan’s career she has danced with Bangarra, performed for the 2000 Sydney Olympic oopening and closing ceremonies and has performed around the country. Strachan is the Artistic Director of Jannawi Dance Clan and freelances as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and costume maker. Dharug culture is at the centre of everything Strachan creates, and she has dedicated years of work to creating one of Australia’s most renowned Matriarchal dance clans. Alongside Julie Jones and Chris Tobin, she is a member of ACE’s Dharug Knowledge Holders Group. From the rich storytelling traditions of Aboriginal Sydney NSW Jannawi Dance Clan shines a light on strength, resilience and artistry of Aboriginal women, men, youth and dance culture today.

Championing Local Voices in Global Communities FORM Dance is the leading producer and presenter of Australian independent contemporary dance in Western Sydney. We are an artist-lead organisation, operating with highly experienced leadership team of Paul Selwyn Norton as Creative Director and Naomi Hibberd as Creative Producer. As festival directors, producers and pedagogues we bring our entrepreneurial expertise and global connectivity to the local NSW dance sector