Access Arts

THROUGH ART, ACCESS ARTS TRANSFORMS LIVES.

Access Arts is Queensland’s leading organisation creating opportunities in the performing and visual arts for people with disability or disadvantage. Access Arts exist to elevate artists working across both visual and performing art mediums, promoting the importance of their art through facilitation, advocacy and education.

We create development opportunities for visual and performing artists to grow their skills, pursue their artistic practice, showcase and sell their work. We advocate for equality for artists with disability within the arts industry.

 

 

Screech Arts

Screech Arts is an innovative and inclusive performing arts organisation which offers a wide range of programs across theatre, dance, music and contemporary performance, that enable participants to build confidence, improve social skills and express themselves in a supported environment.

 

All the Screech Arts ensembles work towards performative outcomes, with a focus on sharing the authentic lived experiences of the participants in a celebratory and inspiring showcase of their extraordinary skills and powerful stories.

 

Queensland Ballet

Queensland Ballet is the state’s largest ballet company, performing diverse and varied repertoire on the mainstage throughout the year. Offstage, Queensland Ballet has a commitment to making dance accessible to all, regardless of age, location, and ability. The company offers a suite of Dance for Health programs, designed to enhance the physical and mental wellbeing of all who participate, which includes programs such as Dance for Parkinson’s, Ballet for Brain Injury, Dance for Arthritis, Dance for Veterans, Dance Rehab in hospitals, and Ballet Serene in aged care facilities.

Each year, Queensland Ballet’s Community, Education, and Dance Health team engages with over 45,000 people in the community across Queensland, inviting everyone to share in the joy that dance brings.

 

 

The Deaf Indigenous Dance Group (DIDG)

Celebrating 25 Years of Culture and Performance

 

The Deaf Indigenous Dance Group (DIDG), based in Cairns, Far North Queensland, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. DIDG is a unique collective of Indigenous Deaf individuals who hail from across Queensland’s Cape York. We are dedicated to sharing our rich cultural heritage through traditional dances and are the keepers of Indigenous Sign Language, which has thrived in our communities for millennia. The languages and dances you witness in our performances are thousands of years old, embodying an unbroken connection to our ancestors.

 

DIDG is a regular competitor at the prestigious Laura Quinkan Dance Festival in Cape York and had the honor of performing in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair 2023, 2024 and will again in 2025. Performing at the Opera House DanceRites competition, the pinnacle of Indigenous competitive performance in Australia, remains a significant milestone for our minority community.

 

DIDG events showcase the artistic talents of our troupe across Australia. Each performance is uniquely crafted to highlight the unique talents within the Deaf Indigenous Dance Troupe to other Deaf people and the wider disability community. Ultimately, DIDG hopes that wider hearing audiences will marvel at the talent embodied by Deaf Indigenous dancers and truly grasp the powerful message that deafness is no barrier to the arts.

 

 

Madeline Stuart Dance Company

The Madeline Stuart Dance Company (MSDC), operating under InsideOutside Dance, is a pioneering, NDIS-registered dance school based in Brisbane, Australia.

 

Founded in February 2016 by international model and disability advocate Madeline Stuart, MSDC offers inclusive dance education for children, teens, and adults with disabilities across South-East Queensland and online. Madeline Stuart, the world’s first professional supermodel with Down syndrome, serves as the school’s ambassador and owner. Her vision is to create a safe, empowering space where individuals of all abilities can explore dance, build confidence, and foster friendships.

 

MSDC provides a diverse range of classes, including Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, Drama, and Drumming. These classes are designed to enhance physical fitness, social skills, and self-expression. The school also offers tailored programs for organizations and private groups, ensuring accessibility for all. Students have numerous performance opportunities, such as biannual showcases and appearances at events like the Special Olympics dinner dance and the Global Games . Additionally, MSDC hosts themed monthly discos to promote social interaction and community engagement.

 

Under the leadership of Business Director Rosanne Stuart, MSDC has grown to become Australia’s largest dance school for people with disabilities, with over 300 weekly enrollments. The school’s mission is to provide innovative, high-quality classes that enhance the lifestyle, learning, and vocational opportunities for people with disabilities.

For more information or to enroll, visit insideoutsidedance.com