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Who We Are
Jungle City is a dance company that utilizes street and cultural dance forms as a tool for positive social change and self-development for our community. Our studio space is located in Preston, Victoria and houses much of our regular public programming. We also bring our services to communities through incursions, workshops, events and live performances. Founded and directed by Cat Sweeney, Jungle City employs a team of highly skilled versatile dancers and arts practitioners who perform and teach with knowledge and respect for the roots and culture of the dances we practice. Our team has years of experience and offer an alternative approach to dance and movement practice both for community and for professionals in the broader dance industry.
BRING OUR TEAM TO YOUR COMMUNITY
What we Do
- Dance programs for all ages and levels
- Dance fitness, Yoga & Dance Movement Therapy
- Private sessions / wedding dances
- School incursion & community outreach
- Entertainment services & live performance
- Choreography, casting, creative consultation
- Events & Cultural dance tours
- Mentorship & community arts projects
The dance forms we practice include Jamaican Dancehall, Afro Fusion and various Hip Hop dance forms. We acknowledge and inform our students and audiences about the roots and culture behind the dances we practice. We see our ability to learn and share these dance forms as a privilege and one that must always be done with respect.
How we do it
Jungle City is a leader in community focused dance practice, offering an alternative to the mainstream, centering our practice around cultural and social dance forms from around the Globe.
We believe the dance forms we practice go beyond just artistic expression and performance to also support our mental health and wellbeing, improve our social connections, initiate personal, collective and spiritual growth, and have the power to create positive social change.
How It Started
Jungle City sprouted its roots in 2005 with a vision of social change through dance, music and culture for culturally diverse young people in Melbourne’s west. Founder Cat Sweeney grew up as a second-generation Greek Cypriot/Irish in multi-cultural St Albans, and often witnessed social inequality, and discrimination inflicted on her peers. This, along with her own personal experiences overcoming challenges through Hip Hop and Dancehall culture, led her on a life-long journey creating communities around these sub-cultures.
Since its incarnation Jungle City has transformed from a Hip Hop youth program at Footscray Community Art Centre created by original members Cat, and Salamawit Mekonen, to a multicultural female youth dance crew supported by FCAC and Maribyrnong City Council. Then it became an all-female dance team for diverse young adults, and from 2015 – 2020 became a physical space on Hope Street in Brunswick.
After a number of nomadic years since losing the original studio space to the Victorian lockdowns, Jungle City rises like a Phoenix to create space for our existing community and for the next generation to flourish.
Our next chapter brings us to Preston, on Wurundjeri Country where we have opened our doors to the new Jungle City – Create space located at 3/350 Murray Rd, Preston. In this space we welcome everyone for all back grounds to join us as we make space for Every Body, Every Day to Move, Create and Connect through the universal practice of dance.
To find out more about our story or join our community get in touch, or drop in and say Hi!
Jungle City alumni:
Alumni of Jungle City’s projects include many young artists, dancers, models, actors, and filmmakers making waves today including; Rap artist P-Unique @itsmequeen.p, Super model Winnie @winnniy, Filmmaker Ezeldin Deng @ez_eldin_deng, Filmmaker Kim Summer @mills_and_boom, Dancehall King of Australia 2016 Wizdom @wizdomdancer, Film director Awak Rech Kongor @awak_k, and Fashion designer Maima @maima_o just to name a few.
WANT TO BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY? GETS STARTED!
Acknowledgement
Jungle City acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional custodians of the land of which we have the privilege to dance on in Naarm (Melbourne), and all First Nations people whose lands we have danced and performed on, or may do so in the future. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. We pledge our commitment to ‘pay the rent’ to Aboriginal people in Victoria by contributing a monthly donation to https://paytherent.net.au/
We also acknowledge the creators of the dance forms we practice – past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that our ability to practice their dances is a privilege that we endeavour to do with respect and reciprocity to the creators and their communities.
Jungle City is committed to working toward unity, and honouring our diversity through the power of dance, music and culture”
