Dance has been a part of Drew Walker's life since she was five years old.
"I'm 25 this year and growing up, because of the way that I looked, I never thought I'd be able to 'make it' in the industry," the Wiradjuri, Wongaibon and Wailwan woman told NITV.
"I feel like, for me, [NAISDA has] given me a chance to see myself as a dancer."
Walker is one of three students graduating with an Advanced Diploma in Professional Dance Performance.
The 18-month course is designed for students entering their final year of study, and marks the end of their time at the training institution.
Graduates joining an immense alumni
Since 1976, NAISDA, as the leading First Nations performing arts training organisation in Australia, has built a legacy of more than a thousand graduates.
There are countless others who have been connected to the college through collaboration, teaching or shorter studies.
Drew Walker, Lena Parkes and Alira Morgan are the most recent additions to this community of First Nations professionals.
A ceremony on Darkinjung Country opened with a buŋgul, and closed with a Torres Strait Islander broom dance, performances that are taught to students during their cultural residencies in North East Arnhem Land and Moa Island.
It's this opportunity to learn a diversity of First Nations dance practices that Malyangapa and Ngiyampaa woman Lena Parkes says makes NAISDA "unique".
"The cultural aspect of NAISDA is just amazing, and you learn a lot about your mob here too," she told NITV.
"Meeting different First Nations artists I look up to and aspire to be.
"They come in most often and tell us, 'Mob there's a way. There's a career path out there for you.'"
NAISDA is looking towards the future while honouring the past
As the institution celebrates half-a-century of shaping world-class First Nations performers storytellers and cultural leaders, there are plans to expand their training to technical support.
NAISDA Chairperson Mayrah Sonter told NITV that the introduction of new courses in backstage roles is meeting a "need for it in the industry."
"We're just really excited about the opportunities that we can create for more young people to come in and learn about their creative lives and dance, but also behind the scenes music production as well as backstage skills," she said.
NAISDA's 50th graduation also included an announcement of a new scholarship honouring the late Uncle Percy Jackonia - the Koedal (Crocodile) Music and Language Scholarship.
Presented by his partner Geoffrey Leeson, the scholarship is the first bursary at NAISDA that will support music and Indigenous language work.
"Percy has left such a legacy both as a student and as a mentor and teacher over many years," said Leeson.
"Sso I'm very honoured to be able to make the most of that legacy by providing the funding for this scholarship."
"I thought it was particularly poignant to do that in the 50th year, because Percy started almost 50 years ago. He was in the early intake, 1981 was his first year," he said.
"He was also very proud of his first language, Kala Lagaw Ya from the Western group of the Torres Strait Island."
Launching the scholarship "was the right time and for the right purpose".
