Critical Path is excited to announce Ella Havelka as our 2024 Truth Telling Research Resident.
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FROM THE ARTIST
“My truth-telling project delves into the untold lineage of my maternal family, revealing a rich narrative of displacement and forced diasporas. While my family has long identified as Wiradjuri, my research through AIATSIS and interviews with relatives has uncovered intricate layers of our heritage, shedding light on the profound impact of colonisation and policies of control on our cultural identity. This journey has highlighted not only the struggles we faced but also the resilience that defines us.
During the first week of my residency, I began compiling a scrapbook that brings together images, records, documents, family photographs, stories, poems, and drawings. This evolving collection serves as a vital resource for my ongoing exploration and engagement with the project, transforming into a living repository of knowledge. It not only fuels my creative practice in the drill hall but also informs the future developments of this work, creating a dynamic interplay between research and artistic expression. Each piece added to the scrapbook contributes to a broader understanding of our family’s story, capturing the complexity of our experiences and honouring the voices that have shaped our narrative.”
ELLA HAVELKA
Wiradjuri woman Ella Havelka is passionate about First Nations storytelling through dance, language revitalisation, and traditional weaving. With a background performing for The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Ella’s journey was documented in the acclaimed film “ELLA” which premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2016. She is a traditional weaver with Wagga Wagga’s Hands On Weavers group and holds a Masters in Social Change Leadership through Melbourne University.
In 2020, Ella established The ELLA Foundation, offering scholarships and mentorship to First Nations youth while promoting cultural expression, inclusion and access through dance. She has choreographed three works for The Australian Ballet Education and Outreach Team and is a freelance creative and consultant for various arts and cultural organisations including Moorambilla Voices, The Australian Chamber Orchestra and The Art’s Unit (NSW Department of Education).
In 2024, Ella founded the Barradambang Dancers, a Wagga Wagga-based youth ensemble attracting talent from across the Riverina. Concurrently, she co-produced CelloDance, a unique fusion of live cello music and dance, showcased in sold-out performances. Ella’s dedication to cultural preservation and innovation continues to inspire new generations of artists and storytellers.
ellahavelka.com
Image: Havelka Family Scrapbook; photo: Ella Havelka’s family.
This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and delivered in partnership with Powerhouse and AIATSIS.