Sundowners Kalkutungu Dancers toured Mount Isa schools this week prior to NAIDOC Week, July 2-9.
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The group is performing next week at the Laura Dance Festival in Cape York Peninsula.
This week they performed a 30 minute production of dance, music and stories to Spinifex Junior, Good Shepherd Catholic, Barkly Highway and Townview Primary schools.
Ronaldo Gavara performed Didgeridoo and commentary between songs.
He describes the dances’ meanings, about the land, stars, animals, food. ‘Mosquito’ describes the protection historically used against biting bugs.
Kalkutungu artist Sheree Blackley from Sundowners said it was exciting to be performing these stories to the public for NAIDOC Week and educating youth on their history.
“Telling our stories – our stories were always told through language rather than writing, so it’s important to acknowledge that and inform people about the different facets of our culture,” Ms Blackley said.
The performers will be at Kalkutungu Language Project next Thursday June 29, and NAIDOC family fun day Friday June 30.
Some schools are celebrating before the school holidays and some during official NAIDOC Week, said Ms Blackley.
“They’re quite enthusiastic – people do cooking and art, so the dancing adds a different element of our culture.
The painter and performer said the kids “love it” and they were proud to be representing their region at Laura Festival.
“It’s where everywhere gathers – all the culturally rich indigenous communities gather there and perform."
MOB FM will be joining Sundowners with a camera, capturing the experience from first training to taking the festival stage.
Spinifex Junior Teacher, Jodie Lobegeiger said “they are amazing”.
Students from years 7-9 watched the group perform for the first time at the campus.
WATCH: North West Star videos of Sundowners performing at recent events
This storyteller, for one, has thoroughly enjoyed every performance of Sundowners Kalkutungu Dance witnessed.
It is a real delight to watch these local dancers play out their history in stories and symbols that depict a beautiful, ancient, and intelligent humanity.