Blak And Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert
Blak And Deadly is a First Nations LGBTQIA+ event that has become a much-loved part of the Sydney Mardi Gras Festival. This year, Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Daniel Mateo will be performing among a lineup of exciting and deadly acts. He spoke with DNA…
DNA: Daniel, what will you be performing at Blak And Deadly?
I will be performing alongside the beautiful Emily Wurramara! Dancing to Black Smoke which will be amazing!
Is Blak And Deadly a way to express both your First Nations and LGBTQIA+ identity?
Yes! There aren’t too many spaces where Queer First Nations identities can thrive unless we curate them for ourselves, by ourselves, so I’m very grateful to share the space with our blak queens and artists.
Isn’t it inspiring that there are now so many great artists and performers who are both LGBTQIA+ and First Nations? It wasn’t always like this, was it?
I feel as though society is slowly waking up and realising and accepting that there are black and queer voices, artists, performers. We’ve always been here, everyone’s just catching up.
You’ve been with Bangarra Dance Theatre since 2021 – what have been the highlights of your time there?
Returning to country for sure! It’s a part of Bangarra’s creative life cycle for the show. Once we create a work, we take it back to where it belongs, and it reminds me every time why we do what we do
Who were your role models in life and career?
My role models would be my family; my siblings, my mum. All the teachers that I’ve had the privilege to learn from.
How can the LGBTQIA+ world better support our First Nations people – and vice versa?
The queer community and our Indigenous community share parallel struggles. We overlap, and we have a mob that walks both at the same time. If you see a sista girl or a brother boy, watch out for them.
You grew up on Wiradjuri country (around Orange) but actually have Gomeroi and Tongan heritage. Where do you call home? Where is Country for you?
Home is where I make it. I always call back to where my mum is and to the country town Narrabri where my Nan lives and my pop’s family are from.
How often do you get back to Country and what does that mean to you?
I don’t get back to Country too much. It’s hard with a job that is quite demanding, so I always try and make a community and a sense of home wherever I am. To be welcomed into a family or community is just as special as coming from one.
Your Insta account shows you sporting some very cool Louis Vuitton gear. What was that for?
I had a fab time modelling for GQ men’s bag wear. It was so fun and something I’d love to continue.
Let’s also talk about the ’stashe! We love it. It’s a bit Tony Armstrong! When did you first grow it?
I feel like the ’stache is now a trademark of mine. Everyone who knows me, knows me with a moustache. I’m always tempted to shave it off, though! [Laughs]
Lighting up City Recital Hall on Thursday 27 February 2025, Faboriginal Steven Oliver returns as host of this night of rainbow variety performance, joined by Aria-award winning hitmaker Emily Wurramara and R&B force of nature Becca Hatch. The cast includes special performances from Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Daniel Mateo, the smooth sounds of Sivillion, performance art icons The Huxleys, burlesque artist Kitty Obsidian, Nancy Bates and with students from the Sydney Conservatorium Of Music, the beloved Nana Miss Koori and the Supreme Dream Girls Josie Baker, Felicia Foxx and Jojo Zaho.
For tickets: Tickets at cityrecitalhall.com $109+bf / $49+bf MobTix.
