Projects
current projects
Bangarra Dance Theatre
Mexican tour
September - October 2026
The Australia Latin America Foundation (ALAF) is proud to present the historic Latin American debut of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australia's internationally acclaimed First Nations performing arts company. In October 2026, Bangarra will perform FuturesPast at the 54th Festival Internacional Cervantino in Guanajuato and at Teatro Julio Castillo in Mexico City as part of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Mexico.
Created by Artistic Director and Co-CEO Frances Rings, FuturesPast draws on Bangarra's rich artistic legacy while exploring the resilience, continuity and enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Through three interconnected acts—Old World, People and Country—the work invites audiences on a powerful journey of identity, belonging and cultural continuity across generations.
The tour follows Bangarra's presentation at the Venice Biennale, where the company received the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in Dance, becoming the first Australian company to be given this international honour.
As one of ALAF's flagship cultural diplomacy initiatives, the project extends beyond performance. It will foster dialogue and collaboration between First Nations artists and cultural institutions in Australia and Latin America, strengthen people-to-people connections, and create new opportunities for artistic exchange. By celebrating Indigenous knowledge and contemporary artistic excellence, the tour reinforces the vital role of culture in Australia's international engagement and lays the foundation for enduring partnerships across the region.
upcoming projects
ALAF Latin America Presenting Circuits Initiative 2027- 2029
The Australia Latin America Foundation is developing a landmark initiative to establish coordinated presenting circuits across key Latin American markets, drawing on more than 40 years of trusted relationships with major festivals, venues and cultural institutions. Conceived as a structured regional platform, the initiative moves beyond traditional touring to create an integrated system connecting high‑profile presenters operating in the March–April and September–October programming windows. This coordinated model positions Australian cultural product — particularly in the performing arts — as a deliberate soft‑power instrument, strengthening trust, reinforcing Australia’s international narrative, and expanding networks that support diplomatic, trade and education objectives.
By operating at economies of scale, the circuits will reduce barriers to distribution and enable cultural programming to align with trade missions, ministerial visits, and bilateral milestones, shifting from reactive programming to intentional soft‑power deployment. The platform will also provide mechanisms to engage influential non‑government networks, expanding Australia’s reach beyond traditional diplomatic channels and deepening long‑term institutional relationships.
Ultimately, the initiative aims to enhance Australia’s soft‑power footprint, strengthen elite and institutional networks, reinforce Australia’s identity as culturally sophisticated and outward‑facing, and provide a scalable framework for future regional engagement across Latin America.