By Yuqi Xin (Journalism intern from the University of Melbourne)
A new artistic collaboration between the western suburbs in Melbourne and Sydney’s west has kicked off. The Street Dance Exchange is a partnership between The Substation in Newport and the Powerhouse Youth Theatre (PYT) Fairfield in Sydney and brings together six leading street dance artists from across Australia to create a major new work.
The participating artists are Efren Pamilacan, Eliam Royalness, Feras Shaheen, Gusta Mara, Jamaica Moana, and Troi-Saraih Ilsley. They all come from diverse cultural backgrounds and have strong experience in street dance practice.
According to Nuala Furtado, CEO of The Substation, one of the core goals of the project is to “change the way we understand dance, especially within contemporary art institutions where Eurocentric curatorial perspectives are often the default.”
“Street dance comes from Black and POC communities. It has always been a form of resistance, self-expression, and cultural identity,” she says. “In contemporary dance, there’s often a strong focus on European traditions and techniques. We want to challenge that narrative and make space for other voices.”
Furtado says the project didn’t come from a reaction to any single event, but from a long-term observation of how culture is being shaped in the community. “When I became CEO of The Substation two and a half years ago, I started looking closely at the migrant communities and youth arts in Melbourne’s west. Street dance stood out to me as a very real and powerful form of expression.”
Originally, the project was going to be called the Western Melbourne – Western Sydney Street Dance Exchange, but the team later decided on a more inclusive title: The Street Dance Exchange. “The name change reflected our thinking,” Furtado says. “Street dance doesn’t only belong to the western suburbs. It belongs to all marginalized and diaspora communities. We wanted the name to speak to that.”
The six artists are working closely with each other and the creative team across choreography, sound, set, lighting, costume design, and concept development. Unlike past experiences where they may have performed under someone else’s choreography, this time they are taking on more leadership in the creative process.
“Many street dance artists have only been involved as dancers, not as full creators of the work,” Furtado explains. “But in this project, we’re really focusing on co-devising. Each artist brings their perspective and experience into the development of the overall work.”
Through this process, the project also opens up new career pathways for street dance artists. “We hope this project gives them more agency in the arts industry and a clearer professional future,” she adds.
The Street Dance Exchange also responds to public conversations around representation in street dance—especially after the 2024 Olympics. Furtado recalls that just two days after submitting their funding application, a white Australian woman represented the country on the Olympic stage for street dance sparking public debate.
“Why was someone representing Australia in street dance—a form created by Black and POC cultures—who didn’t come from that background?” she says. “That moment showed exactly why this project matters. We need to support the people who built this culture and make sure they are the ones being seen and heard.”
Furtado hopes that when audiences finally see the work, they will not only enjoy the skill and form of street dance but also feel the deeper stories behind the movement.
“Street dance is physical, powerful, and immediate,” she says. “But it’s also deeply rooted in cultural identity, racial experience, and social class. I hope audiences can see the beauty and strength, but also connect with the real lives and stories of the artists behind it.”
The Street Dance Exchange has been created with the support of Creative Australia’s Creative Futures Fund and is ‘in development’ from 16 June 2025 to 30 June 2026. We’ll be sure to let you know when performances have been scheduled.
