Katina is a proud Wakka Wakka and Kombumerri dancer / choreographer currently based between Sydney and the Sunshine Coast in Australia.
Kicking off her professional career performing and touring with Bangarra Dance Theatre in 2007; she now works as a freelance artist performing, choreographing and collaborating with artists in Australia and Internationally.
Her choreographic interests lie in the fusions of her Indigenous cultural dance and story with contemporary dance, film, theatre, moving sculpture and installation.
Wakka Wakka Kombumerri dancer / choreographer and QUT graduate, has worked throughout Australia, Canada, UK, USA and Europe with Atamira, Sydney Dance Company, Stalker Theatre, Expressions (now Australasian Dance Collective), Bangarra, Force Majeure, Erth, GUTS, Meryl Tankard, Martin del Amo, Victoria Hunt, Narelle Benjamin, Vicki Van Hout, Liesel Zink and Wesley Enoch.
Katina’s choreographic highlights include Mother’s Cry for Sydney Dance Company’s New Breed 2018, movement direction for the play Sunshine Super Girl (Sydney Festival 2021), the ABC series Cleverman 2 and the Malthouse production Walking into the Bigness.
Katina is also founding member of Dance Makers Collective and collaborated and performed with them on their Australian Dance Award nominated DADS and their most recent sold out Sydney Festival show The Rivoli.
Olsen was appointed by Arts Central as a 2012/2013 Digital Futures mentor and was also one of the 2019 Provocateurs for the Generate GC Arts Lab on Kombumerri Country (Gold Coast).
Organisation/Company
Name: Independent and Preparing Ground Co-Director
My Role: Choreographer
I love to make dance work that voices the stories from my Wakka Wakka / Kombumerri family and community that were once silenced due to the racist policies that governed our people in so-called Australia. I looooove collaborating with other First Nations artists and my hope is that I can affect greater social change and care for Country through the work and connected community actions.
Most recently I have been co-directing and collaborating on a female First Nations led dance work called Preparing Ground alongside choreographer / performers Marilyn Miller and Jasmin Sheppard.
Iwi affiliation
Wakka Wakka (Central Queensland, Aus) / Kombumerri (The Gold Coast, South East Queensland, Aus)
Rohe
I was born and grew up on Darumbal Country (Rockhampton, Central Queensland). I live a somewhat nomadic life living and travelling where my dance projects are, but you'll often find me mostly living and working between Warrane (Sydney, NSW, Aus) and Meanjin (Brisbane, Qld).
How I got where I am today
I always loved to dance as a child and continued my training at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane where I received a Bachelor in Fine Arts (Dance). Upon graduating in 2006 I was invited to audition as a dancer for Bangarra Dance Theatre. I got the job and enjoyed 4 years (2007 - 2010) as a company dancer performing and touring Australia and internationally.
Since leaving the company I'm enjoying continuing my career as an Independent choreographer and performer working across Australia with Sydney Dance Company, Atamira, Stalker Theatre, Australasian Dance Collective, Force Majeure, Erth, GUTS, Meryl Tankard, Martin del Amo, Victoria Hunt, Narelle Benjamin, Vicki Van Hout, Liesel Zink and Wesley Enoch.
Whānau
My Wakka Wakka people are from the Eidsvold and Gayndah regions of Central Queensland. My ancestors worked on the cattle stations in these areas, my Great-great-grandfather William Wagg was the head stockman of Eidsvold Station and his son, Colin Wagg my Great-grandfather was a drover and his name is now in the Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach, Queensland. They worked under racist policies that prevented them from practicing their cultural ways and speaking language. But thanks to the tireless work of my people our Wakka Wakka language is now being taught in Eidsvold Primary School.
Kombumerri people are saltwater people from the Gold Coast in South East Queensland. We are were always matriarchal people. Our language group is the ‘Mibiny’ and our dialect is Ngarangwal. My Great-grandmother Barbara Graham was an incredible fisherman and even used to catch the longest sand worms with her toes, my mother continues this skill today.
Colonisation has affected my Wakka Wakka / Kombumerri people but we are strong, resilient and are still here. I am incredibly proud and fortunate to be surrounded and supported by my community. I'm constantly inspired by the work each of my mob does for our Country, people and future.
Something cool
I have just started reading Chelsea Watego's book Another Day in the Colony. I'm also really enjoying listening to Ngaiire's new album "3" and Khruangbin & Leon Bridges' "Texas Moon".
The Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) Arts Market is New Zealand's premiere event for artists, producers, presenters and industry leaders from across the performing arts sector.
Unpacking the Canada Council's $85m Digital Strategy Fund. What worked and what can the arts sector in Australia learn from it?
Little Lunch Online (LLOL) was a daily online meetup and creative exchange to support the Australian arts sector during the Corona Virus pandemic in 2020.