Paul Taylor offers one week residencies to model & teach students through an arts integrative, interactive, multi-disciplined experience of story, song, dance, painting & theater, with choices of 13 workshops. The residency is designed to immerse the students in various aspects of Australian Aboriginal & European culture, stories, history, music, instruments, art & dance. Residency Workshops range from folk dances of Australia including Aboriginal dance where students of any age can learn dance steps & traditions; to making, painting & playing a didjeridoo – which includes the history of the instrument & the painting; designing one’s own story in the painting on the instrument; circular breathing & the physics of sound; playing & chanting; to painting a mural in the Aboriginal style that represents the area where the students live. Residencies often culminate in a student performance, showcasing the instruments or paintings they have produced during the week, and the dances and songs they’ve learned.

Use this link to view a video excerpt from an elementary residency program: https://youtu.be/u_B3lGRZAQc

Artist Background

Paul Taylor is a native of Adelaide, South Australia. He is a storyteller and authentic player of Aboriginal percussion and didjeridoo. Trained as a social worker and also in theater, he’s worked as an actor and stage manager in Australia’s theaters as well as a circus clown in England, Scotland and Wales. Endorsed by the state Arts Councils of TX, WY, UT, ND, NC, SC and SD, Paul travels the US performing and conducting interactive sessions for schools, performing arts centers, festivals, museums and libraries.

Paul is mentored by Yidumduma Bill Harney, custodian of the Wardaman culture in Australia’s Northern Territory, and he returns to Australia on sabbatical each year to spend time with family and Bill. Paul has been honored by the Wardaman with his name “Jalala”. Paul has worked with over 300,000 American children and recorded 5 award-winning albums of Australian song and story, honored with a Parents’ Choice Gold, NAPPA Gold, Storytelling World, and Best Educational, and Best Spoken Word Recording awards for Children’s Music.

Search Criteria

• Program Type: Workshop/Residency
• Discipline: Dance, Multi-Disciplinary, Music, Storytelling, Theatre, Visual Arts
• Grade Level: Elementary, Middle
• Cultural Context: Australian
• Accepts bookings in Johnston County