Luke Currie-Richardson

Luke is a descendant of the Kuku Yalanji and Djabugay peoples, the Mununjali Clan of South East QLD, the Butchulla clan of Fraser Island and the Meriam people of the Eastern Torres Straits Islands. He aspires to be a role model for young people both Indigenous and non- Indigenous to show them they can be and do all things.

Luke began storytelling in 2002 learning and performing traditional dance with Gerib Sik Torres Strait Islander Dance Group with his family in Canberra. His first introduction to contemporary dance came as a member of QL2.

Luke studied dance at NAISDA Dance College and in 2010 commenced a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). In 2012 Luke appeared in Wesley Enoch's I Am Eora for Sydney Festival and later that year joined Bangarra Dance Theatre.

From 2012 to 2018 Luke was a company dancer in Bangarra showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island contemporary culture around the world. His highlights include performing in remote communities (Yirrkala, Thursday Island and Mer Island) for Indigenous peoples of Australia.

Luke has an interest in exploring different avenues as a storyteller to represent and showcase his culture. In 2019 Luke was the host of ‘Pay the Rent’, a short documentary about reparations in Australia produced by Buzzfeed Australia. He has had the honour of working with Ghenoa Gela in Mura Buai touring to Canada and collaborating with First Nation Turtle Island artists and was recently part of the development for Jurrungu ngan-ga by Marrugeku.

Luke has a passion for collaborating with Indigenous talent. He recently directed the music video for I CAN’T BREATHE by DOBBY ft. Barkaa. He has modelled for Indigenous designer Grace Lillian Lee as a part of Reigning Men: Fashion in menswear at the Powerhouse Museum, First Nation Fashion + Design and as part of Darwin Aboriginal Arts Fair 2019. Luke commenced as a mentor with Aurora Foundation in 2019 and co-hosted 2019 NAIDOC in the City. He is currently a member of Muggera, a traditional Aboriginal dance group based in Sydney, winners of Dance Rites 2019.

Luke’s photography can be found on Instagram @bl_snaps and his video collaborations on Youtube /BALALUKE