When it came to choosing a profession Nadia Milford could not imagine her life without dance. Through hard work and a QUT Dance Performance degree she is building a remarkable career. We catch up to discuss what she is up to now and how she is achieving her purpose by following her passions.
Can you sum up in one or two sentences what you do in your job?
As an independent dance artist I’m always involved in a range of different projects. Since graduation I’ve performed for independent artists and companies for events, festivals or productions, as well as in my own choreographic works (I’m always working on something of my own). I also teach and choreograph for a wide variety of students – high school workshops, groups with varying abilities and impairments and professional classes.
What made you choose this career/organisation?
Dance has always been a passion of mine although growing up I never really understood being a dancer was an actual career path. When it came to choosing a profession for the rest of my life, I realised I couldn’t imagine my life without dance. Luckily, there was a degree for me at QUT.
I believe we achieve our purpose by following our passions. Anything else is a waste of time. I’m passionate about many things – equality, climate change, human rights, compassion (endless). I address these in the best way I know how – through dance.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Connection. Engaging with others to create new perspectives and elicit greater empathy in this world. I also get to work with amazing artists and many beautifully passionate people.
What are some of the major projects you have been involved in/career highlights to date?
My first year out of uni I was awarded an Arts Queensland’s Individual’s Fund to complete a four month professional development project spanning nine different European countries. I attended different festivals, workshops and masterclasses across some of the major dance capitals in the world. It was such an awesome experience to start my professional career. I created a sold out show for Supercell Festival of Contemporary Dance in collaboration with three other dancers (QUT graduates and students). I then was given Dancenorth’s A.R.T. residency to develop this work into my first solo! Since then, I’ve created and presented more of my solo work through different festivals and residencies.
Along the way I fell in love with creating dance films and my films have been screened across Australia, Germany and New Zealand. Alongside my own projects, I’ve worked with Expressions Dance Company, Red Leap Theatre (NZ), Blue Roo Theatre, as well as independent choreographers, theatre makers, circus artists, musicians, visual artists and poets to perform in venues like QAGOMA, QUT Art Museum, The Triffid, The Tivoli and QPAC.
As a teaching artist, I’ve presented workshops and master classes across Australia and recently in India – sharing my love of dance! These are a few of the awesome and wide variety of projects I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in.
What are your future goals?
I have many future goals that mould to each new curiosity that evolves out of my experiences – I’m always interested in new opportunities. I’d like to continue to develop my practice – I absolutely never want to stop learning.
I’m interested in a variety of creative elements; combining virtuosic contemporary dance with multidisciplinary mediums – theatrical use of relationships and audience involvement, film, visual art, poetry and most recently XR technology! I really value collaboration and education. Through the process of sharing your ideas you learn more about yourself and others.
I’d love to build an arts culture in Australia that supports innovation and inclusivity – everybody deserves the benefits of dance. Above all I aim to create compassion through creativity. I see myself doing this through performing, creating or educating – most likely a combination of all three at any given time.
Learn more about the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance).
