Dalara Williams joins Moogahlin Performing Arts as 2021 Artistic Associate

Moogahlin Performing Arts is pleased to welcome Gumbaynggirr/Wiradjuri actor and writer Dalara Williams as Artistic Associate in 2021. The appointment heralds a new era for the company’s artistic journey, being the first time an artist has joined the ranks outside of the foundation years.

Dalara lives in Sydney on Gadigal/Bidjigal country and expresses herself through the art of performing and visual arts. She started acting in 2010, enrolling in Eora TAFE and went on to graduate from Australia’s premier acting school NIDA in 2017.  She has performed with theatre companies such as Darlinghurst Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, STC, Malthouse, and Ilbijerri. Her screen credits include Wayne Blairs Top End Wedding, The Flood, Get Krack!n, and the third and fourth series of ABC’s Black Comedy.

In the 2021 Moogahlin run Yellamundie Festival, Dalara’s play The Lookout was selected with six other First People’s stories across theatre, dance and composition for a first two-week development with First People actors, directors & dramaturgs.

As Artistic Associate, Dalara will continue the development of The Lookout in late 2021, working alongside Moogahlin Co-founders Liza-Mare Syron and Lily Shearer, learning from their decades of experience in the performing arts sector.

Co-founder & Artistic Director Lily Shearer said “It’s exciting to have Dalara on board the Moogahlin Performing Arts family as our third Artistic Associate, following former Co-Artistic Directors Andrea James and Dr Liza-Mare Syron as Senior Associates. We’ve had an opportunity to walk with Dalara in her development as a story-teller and performing artist over the last 8 years, she brings her experience to share so that the relationship is reciprocal and will be an asset to the team!”

Moogahlin has been championing the development of Blak artists and performance since 2007. Dalara’s appointment reinforces the company’s commitment to building future arts leadership and helping create opportunities for emerging arts practitioners.

Moogahlin Managing Director Ali Murphy-Oates said “Moogahlin is a company that is by and for our artists and community. The devastating impacts of the industry shut down in 2020 proved the inequity and imbalances of our sector – particularly our over-casualisation of artists and reliance on a gig economy. More than ever we have a responsibility to support and create space for the future of Blak artistic leadership, and Dalara joining us as Artistic Associate is just the beginning.”