Neihanna Hippi is currently studying for a Certificate IV in Dance at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA), where he is developing his skills in contemporary Indigenous dance while deepening his cultural knowledge.

NAISDA this week marked its 50th year by announcing applications are now open for its 2027 intake and unveiling a new Certificate IV in Live Production and Technical Services, creating new pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students interested in careers behind the scenes in the performing arts.

For Neihanna, who is a proud Arakwal man with strong Bundjalung connections and ties to Gamilaroi Country through his mother’s family, the opportunity to study at NAISDA has allowed him to strengthen both his artistic practice and cultural identity.

Having spent much of his life between Byron Bay and Cabbage Tree Island, his connection to Country and community has shaped his passion for dance, music and storytelling.

While contemporary Indigenous dance is his main focus, Neihanna also enjoys ballet, hip hop, singing, music production and creating artworks.

Before joining NAISDA, he shared his knowledge through dance workshops in his local community and co-founded the Dubay Yawarr Dance Group with his cousin. The pair travelled throughout the Northern Rivers performing contemporary and cultural dance for community events over several years.

His studies have already provided opportunities to perform on major stages, including NAISDA’s 2025 end-of-year production, Echoing The Future, directed and choreographed by Charles Koroneho.

Neihanna has also travelled to Nyinyikay in Arnhem Land to learn culture and dance on Country and is looking forward to continuing that journey with a cultural exchange on Mua Island later this year.

His long-term ambition is to join a professional dance company before returning to mentor the next generation of emerging First Nations artists.

NAISDA Chief Executive Officer Kim Walker AM said the organisation was expanding its training opportunities as it celebrated five decades of nurturing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent.

“We know there are young people out there who are passionate about the arts, but don’t necessarily see themselves as dancers or choreographers,” she said.

“As we celebrate 50 years we look to the future and are expanding our curriculum.”

The new live production course will provide practical training in lighting, sound, staging and vision production alongside cultural learning with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Cultural Tutors.

Applications for NAISDA’s 2027 intake are now open and close on August 31.