Former Weipa resident and dancer Harlisha Newie-Joe shines at the NAISDA graduation ceremony. Photo: Lisa Haymes.
After a challenging five years navigating life as a performer through COVID-19, a Cape York and Torres Strait Islander dancer is celebrating her graduation from one of Australia’s leading performing arts training organisations.
Harlisha Newie-Joe, a Goemu and Wagadagam woman who grew up in Weipa, received her Advanced Diploma of Professional Dance Performance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) late last month.
Directly after graduating from Western Cape College, Ms Newie-Joe moved to New South Wales in 2020 to begin her dance college journey, but it did not quite go to plan.
“Due to COVID, everyone was sent back home, and then it was just a world of Zoom, which was not easy, because imagine doing ballet for the first time, and now you’re trying to learn over Zoom,” she said.
“With wet season and stuff like that, Wi-Fi wasn’t the best; there were storms up here, so it was hard.”
She returned to NAISDA in 2021, only to be sent back six months later when COVID-19 hit once again, but the interruptions allowed her to really think about what she wanted in the industry.
Ms Newie-Joe went on to make her family and community proud with many achievements, including a bursary to the Perth Moves festival, travelling to Hawaii with Arpaka Dance Company, and forming Garwoeidhamin Mayan, a business which delivers dance workshops and classes, with two fellow graduates.
“It did slow things down, and gave me the chance to think about what I wanted outside of this course,” she said.
“I knew I wanted to do something in the arts and community, I just didn’t know how that was possible until NAISDA.
“I never thought I’d be capable of doing this; NAISDA really opened doors for me and my eyes on the possibilities out there.”
NAISDA chief executive officer Kim Walker congratulated Ms Newie-Joe and the other 2025 graduates.
“Our students are culture carriers, storytellers and change makers,” she said.
“Harlisha and her fellow graduates are ready to take their place as leaders in the world of performing arts and beyond.
“We are proud of their journey and excited for what comes next.”
Ms Newie-Joe said she would love to use her background in traditional Torres Strait dance and stage techniques learned at NAISDA to encourage others from her community to go for their goals.
“There is a goal for myself and the other two graduates to go up there and do some workshops,” she said.
“You see all around, our mob have natural talent, whether it’s in the arts, dance or music.
“There are hidden talents everywhere, but there’s always elements of shame and that lack of belief in themselves.”
