What started as a full-day professional development opportunity for a member of staff, has turned into two stellar and moving indigenous dance routines by the Kildare College Performing Arts Group.
With indigenous culture and heritage so prevalent at Kildare, Dance Teacher Rachel Scott, was inspired to see how she could translate and infiltrate this into the dance curriculum at the College. Mrs Scott, motivated by an indigenous guest speaker to the College, travelled to NSW for a 1-day intensive course hosted by Bangarra Dance Theatre Company. The course “winhanga-rra” (which translates as hear, think, listen), invites teachers in primary and secondary schools to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
Through this practical workshop, Ms Scott learnt about whole school approaches to respecting indigenous culture, and how to integrate this into the school through dance. “We learned more deeply about indigenous culture and experimented with different cultural stimulus as a starting point for choreography. To further understand and explore connection to Country, and interpret this through dance, was something I felt was important”.
From here, Ms Scott then completed a masterclass learning some choreography from “Ochres” a contemporary dance piece from the Bangarra dancers. She also accompanied the Year 11 and 12 Kildare dancers to a performance of Bennalong, to understand the importance of storytelling as part of indigenous culture, and how this can transform into contemporary and traditional movement, from words to dance.
The routine which Ms Scott co- choreographed, a collaborative approach with fellow dance teacher Adrianne Semmens, explored the connection to Country and themes of dreamtime with references to animals. Movements were created by the students and inspired from memorable landmarks and experiences with family.
Students first performed the routine during Reconciliation week, as part of the Kildare Ministries Land Transfer service in July, and then at the Kildare College Arts Showcase across daytime and evening performances in September to audiences of partner primary schools, students, staff, parents and friends of the College.
The students then were honoured to perform the routine for the second time at the Peace Rules Showcase on September 27. Coordinated by the Graham F Smith Peace Foundation Inc, the Showcase sends a powerful message on working for peace through the Arts. Students “gave us two engaging and professionally performed dances; representing First Nation land rights and the plight of refugees settling in a new country,” said Robyn Callan and Corinne Berry of the Peace Rules Committee. While the students didn’t place among the winners, their performance was described as professional and polished, and danced with passion and pride.
The costumes the students wore during the performances were designed and hand painted by the College’s Nunga Students, mentored by Artist in Residence Burthamurr Chris Crebbin, who also provided the artwork which was projected on the wall behind the students during the performance.
Indigenous dance has also been a focus for Year 8 students, with a special performance by the students for Cultural Immersion Day last term. Mrs Scott aims to further incorporate indigenous contemporary dance in the future, inviting guest artists to work with and inspire our students.
