Niara Mansell - performer

Niara Mansell is a rralla trawlwoolway pakana luna, a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman from the North East, born by the beautiful kanamaluka/Tamar river in Launceston. She is a member of pakana kanaplila, a Tasmanian aboriginal traditional/contemporary dance troupe, but has been dancing for as long as she can remember. Niara enjoys reading, socialising with close family and friends, and taking photographs of nature in her spare time. She believes that kanaplila and rayakana, dance and song, are significant for connection, for her community, and for continuing her rich cultural traditions and practices.
Niara has performed in various events and festivals across lutruwita and on the mainland. For example, she has performed at the likes of the Woodford folk festival in 2016, the Festival of voices in 2017, Dance Rights at the Sydney opera house in 2018, the Tasmanian Theatre Festival in 2019, Salt-water sisters at Moonah Art Centre in 2019, and at the 40th-anniversary celebration of TasDance in 2021. In tuylupa she is excited to breathe into the embers of her ancestors, becoming a spark for her community, and lighting the fire for future generations to come.