RACHAEL WALLIS
Rachael Wallis joined the Tracks board in March 2020, as part of the Artistic Leadership Team in 2025 she will continue to contribute the vision of Tracks Dance company as well as casually working as an Animateur to facilitate throughout our program. She is a dancer, choreographer and artistic director, covering both contemporary and traditional dance practices. Living, working and creating on Larrakia Country. For over 30 years Rachael has been performing and teaching regionally, nationally and globally with leading Indigenous dance companies and outstanding choreographers.
After graduating at NAISDA Dance College and dancing with Bangarra Dance Theatre she returned to teach ballet at NAISDA until 2004 then moved to Nhulunbuy, as Principal dance teacher for Arafura Dance School for 15 years. Rachael is now based in Darwin while working as the Artistic Director at Miku Performing Arts, alongside Banula Marika Cultural Director. Miku's company artists create and present works to express, share and preserve knowledge and stories. Miku collaborates with Tracks Dance Company, Gary Lang NT Dance Company and Darwin Symphony Orchestra. Nationally and international collaborations are also envisioned and produced through Miku.
Currently, Rachael is working on Gapu Ŋupan to be presented at AsiaTopa in 2025. A cultural collaboration born during her Taiwan residency, as part of Artback NT’s Indigenous Artist in Residency Program. She was the 2023 Lucy Geurin Inc First Nations Resident on and has been developing the Dhangu Walu (In The Now) and Wuyal Sugarbag Man projects alongside Tracks while working in Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala, Darwin and Coomalie.
"For me, teaching and sharing dance ensures our stories are carried on for all generations. [When] living in North East Arnhem Land I recognise the importance of dance for family and culture, being able to share ancient stories, song lines and dance raises awareness and understanding of indigenous peoples. My hope is to move into the future together with respect and love for our land and environment (and our dances reflect on such matters). And that all Australians soon realise that First Nations people hold knowledge to take better care of our world and each other." - Rachael Wallis 2021