Araluen Arts Centre: 
Desert Hothouse | White Lies
WHITE LIES | Katina Olsen
Australia (as we know it) is built on the legal fiction of terra nullius (land belonging to no-one, the basis of the British claim to possession of Australia). Sovereignty has never been ceded and Australia is the only Commonwealth country without a Treaty with their First Nations peoples.
Many of these policies have affected Katina and others' own ancestors directly and have left lasting effects on the systemic and cultural landscape we know, understand, operate within and still benefit from today. Whilst some might inherit stolen wealth, others inherit intergenerational trauma.
White Lies attempts to show the disparity between truth and a lie and one version of history versus another whilst asking: “if we muzzle the truth of the land and its people, how are we to learn and understand how to care for it and live within it?”.
This show will also be performed on Saturday 1 August at 2pm and individual tickets will be on sale soon.
In the meantime, check out our exclusive full-day Saturday pass to see all three Desert Hothouse shows, including a long-table meal and curated conversations.
Link to Saturday pass here: Desert Hothouse | Saturday Pass | Araluen Arts Centre
Gallery
About Katina
Katina Olsen is a Wakka Wakka Kombumerri dancer and choreographer whose work spans Australia, Canada, the UK, USA, and Europe. Her credits include collaborations with Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, Australasian Dance Collective, and Queensland Ballet (for whom she created their first First Nations work in 2024). She is Co-Artistic Director of Dance Makers Collective and an alumna of DanceWeb, BlakForm, and Creative Australia's Future Leaders program.
Choreographer: Katina Olsen
Creative Team
Choreographer: Katina Olsen
Collaborating Performers: Ash Musk, Karlia Cook, Bella Waru, Tara Robertson and Frankie Snowdon
Sound Composition/Design: Serina Pech and Anna Whitaker
Lighting, Spatial and Set Design: Jen Hector
Video Artist: Samuel James
Dramaturge: Ash Musk
Creative Producer: Frances Robinson
Production Management: Triptic Event Management
Thought Leader: Art Oracle, Erica McCalman
Creative Consultant: Ping Flynn
SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS
Desert Hothouse is presented by GUTS Dance // Central Australia in partnership with the Araluen Arts Centre. Desert Hothouse is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body. GUTS Dance is supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund.
GUTS Dance also receives organisational funding through Arts NT and Future Generations Australia.
Dates
Times
12.30pm
Prices
Adult
$35
Concession
$30
Student
$30
Child (Under 12)
$20
2026 Araluen Member
$30
Genre
Location
Extra information
Online ticketing is available up until one hour prior to the performance.
For ticket purchases after this time, please visit the Araluen Box Office or call us on (08) 8951 1122.
Accessibility
Warnings
Loud sound.
Booking Fee
For this event, a one-off service fee of $2.50 per transaction applies on all purchases online. All ticket prices include GST.
