Golden Thursdays

Golden Thursdays (GT) is a bold, contemporary dance Ensemble based in the Northern Rivers/Bundjalung Nation, led by artists with diverse lived experiences. At its heart, GT exists to elevate and centre the choreographic voices of neuro-divergent artists through rigorous creative processes and inclusive collaboration.

Over the past 3 years, Golden Thursdays has developed an artist-led structure grounded in a weekly “Thursday Lab”, a dedicated forum where Ensemble members Alice Boscheinen, Max McAuley, and Bryn James explore, design, and refine new choreographic languages. Each artist develops their own unique movement material, informed by their embodied knowledge, creative vision, and personal rhythm. This is supported by part-time creative development work across Tuesdays and Wednesdays, intensive residencies, inclusive Wednesday evening dance classes for children, and professional workshops led by GT and guest artists, fostering community leadership and creative autonomy.

Alice, Max, Bryn, and Brisbane-based collaborating artists Sinead Skorka-Brennan and Freya Toussaint, each sought to develop their contemporary dance practice independently of other organisations. The artists and their families invited Stuart Shugg and Kate McDowell to support their work as Creative Catalysts. Kate and Stuart do not identify as disabled but were selected by the artists for their trusted relationships and the sensitivities they bring to co-creative facilitation. Their role is to support, not direct the artists’ visions. At all times, the neuro-divergent artists drive the choreographic inquiry, affording the artists opportunities enjoyed by neuro-typical choreographers, to have their work developed by skilled dancer-collaborators. Max named their lab ‘Golden Thursdays’ and the name stuck.