This is an ongoing archive of Next Wave Alumni spanning our 40-year history. You can browse the list below or use the filters to find someone fast. If you have been involved in a Next Wave Festival and don’t have an artist profile yet, fill in the form here. If you have any questions, email nextwave@nextwave.org.au.


Amrita Hepi and Jahra Rager

Amrita Hepi is an emerging independent choreographer and performance artist descending from the Ngapuhi tribe in Northern New Zealand and the Bundjulung people in northern New South Wales, Australia. She is focused on making work that explores the identity of the divine other, and how movement has the capacity to be alchemically sacred. She has exhibited and performed at the Museum of Contemporary Arts Australia (alongside Tony Albert and Richard Bell for Black Christmas), been involved with the Sydney Opera House, Spinifex and VIVID Festival to choreograph and perform Play, as well as collaborating with artist Jimmy Pike and Sydney-based iconic fashion label Desert Designs to create the piece Together Towards the Water at MBFWA. Amrita was Dance and Theatre Programmer for Sydney Festival 2015, and represented Australia at Banff Centre of The Arts in Canada on an Indigenous Dance Residency alongside six other first nations countries to create a new work called Trace. She recently completed a secondment in Melbourne with Lucy Guerin Inc.

Jahra ‘Rager’ Wasasala is a contemporary dancer, choreographer and spoken word artist. Born and raised in Aotearoa, New Zealand. She has roots in many places around the world, but her pacific heritage comes from the islands of Fiji. Jahra is known for her powerful performances, ancient edge, and socially provocative nature. She explores the space between contemporary dance and live poetry, whilst incorporating other mediums. Jahra’s work has taken her to many parts of the world including The Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada. In 2014, Jahra travelled to Banff to take part in the internationally acclaimed Indigenous Dance Residency. She was also a part of Chewing Your Ears, a spoken word show that traveled to the Adelaide Fringe. Jahra has choreographed and co-choreographed many works, including her latest work MOTHER/JAW, which premiered with a sold-out four night season at The Basement Theatre in Auckland. MOTHER/JAW won five out of 10 Auckland Fringe Awards, including the Auckland Live Development Award.

Above:
  1. Amrita Hepi.

  2. Amrita Hepi.

  3. Jahra Rager (cropped).

  4. Jahra Rager.

  5. Jahra Rager.