Recent HIGHLIGHTS
TANDANYA continues to bring people and communities together to share stories and build connections. More recently with the TANDANYA building unavailable for use, the focus was on developing and producing projects across South Australia in remote and city-based venues in partnerships with like-minded organisations and artists promoting First Nations arts and cultures.
April 20, 2024
Carclew House, Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide
In partnership with Carclew, TANDANYA supported the resurgence of BlakYard picnic with an all-First Nations lineup. BlakYard Picnic was a vibrant day celebrating Indigenous culture and fostering community engagement. The day saw the convergence of creativity, talent, and cultural exchange that provided a platform for Indigenous artists to showcase their artistic talents and crafts. The day included adynamic line-up of live music, dance, immersive cultural workshops, and an array of festival eats. • Artistic Stalls: Three artist stalls: Maali Yorga Arts, Mardlaapa Designs, Wurtatu creations in addition to TANDANYA's presence, provided a platform for Indigenous artists to showcase their talents and crafts. • Workshops: Four workshops including Circus skills with Caleena Sansbury, Dance with Kirsty Williams and Kiera Fitzgerald, Gig Rig Drop-in Studio with Eskatology and weaving with Wurtati creations; Sonya, Sarah and Suzy Smith facilitated enriching cultural exchanges and hands-on experiences for participants. • Musical Acts: Seven musical acts – Katie Aspel, Myles Turner, Nimpala Rose, Emily Wurramara, Stand Strong with Eskatology, Marlon and Son of Serpent. These acts also including child performers, captivated audiences and showcased the diversity of Indigenous musical talent, totalling 29 artists. • Dance Acts: Two dance acts - Tal Kin Jeri and Tjarutja Dance Theatre Collective featuring both children and adult performers, added vibrancy and cultural richness to the event, with a total of 12 artists. • Food and Drink Vendors: Four vendors offering an array of festival eats including – Stazzi & Co, Meez on Plus, Potato on a stick and the Kombi Crew.
In partnership with Insite Arts and Adelaide Festival of Arts, TANDANYA supported the performance of GURRANDA – a Narungga Opera on the country, prior to the opening at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Working in collaboration with Insite Arts, the production was a large-scale contemporary theatre work conceived by Jacob Boehme, a critically acclaimed theatre maker and choreographer, from the Narungga and Kaurna Nations, in collaboration with Narungga Elders, community and a company of both professional First Nations and non-indigenous creatives. The Narungga people are the traditional custodians and co-managers of the Dhilba Guuranda—Innes National Park. Their cultural connection with the land stretches back many thousands of years. Dhilba Guuranda means ‘Southern Narungga Region – Yorke Peninsula’. This magical performance, set against the backdrop of country at Dhilba Gurranda Innes National Park, marked a profound departure from the productions slick staging at Her Majesty’s Theatre (Adelaide Festival 2024). Transcending the traditional boundaries of theatre, Gurranda on country offered a unique immersive journey into culture through storytelling dance, puppetry and singing amidst the dramatic countryside that birthed Boehme's mobs' Dreamtime story. In this setting Guuranda assumed a significance deeply rooted in cultural connection with the land. By situating "Guuranda" within the National Park, TANDANYA helped facilitate a powerful alignment between narrative, environment, and the local community. The landscape became an active participant in the storytelling process, embodying the essence of the Dreamtime narrative. This symbiosis elevated the experience, enriching both performers and audience, fostering a deeper understanding of the story being depicted and offering a profound insight into the rich cultural heritage being celebrated. The physical presence within the landscape provided the attendees which consisted primarily of immediate family, and local community members, an elaborate tapestry for the senses, impossible to replicate within the confines of a conventional theatre. Audience members were not separated from the performance by a stage; they were part of the scene, enveloped by the same environment as the performers. The children of the community were playing in parallel to the performers which added nuance and breathed life into the production. This blurring of boundaries between performer and audience creating a shared experience of belonging and interconnectedness with the land, its stories and provided a powerful vehicle for intergenerational knowledge transmission. The stories of us I Australian Rural & Regional News (arr.news) Creation stories come alive on Country (ypct.com.au)
TANDANYA commissioned Tjarutja Dance Collective to create a new dance piece titled "Water Rites” which premiered at “Blak Yard Picnic”. Choreographed by Kenneth Johnson, “Water Rites” marks Johnson's debut as a choreographer who explores traditional customs and the sacred relationship with the rivers and sea surrounding the Ngarrindjeri Nations. Kenneth Johnson, reflecting on his role as a custodian living near Murrundi (The River), delves into the ceremonial practices and responsibilities tied to water through a poignant narrative of his journey embracing and transforming his two-spirited nonbinary identity through cleansing rituals. The piece portrays his dance within the dual spirits, highlighting his connection and duties to the country's waterways. Under the mentorship of Gina Rings and Alison Currie, a series of workshops and discussions were conducted with Kenneth Johnson, a senior dancer with the Tjarutja Dance Theatre Collective. These sessions were crucial in developing the choreography and narrative of "Water Rites” and provided a safe space for exploration, enabling Johnson to bring forth a powerful and authentic expression of his identity and cultural heritage through dance. Johnson's personal interpretations and cultural connections to the Ngarrindjeri Ruwi informed the creative process. Shortly after his Choreographic debut of “Water Rites” Kenny was chosen for the Choreolab 2024, a program hosted by DanceHub SA.
11- 12 June, 2024
Ocean View College, Taperoo, Adelaide
As part of the Community Engagement Program, TANDANYA facilitated a two-day Men’s and Boy’s Kaurna history, heritage and culture workshop at Ocean View College a co-educational state government site with a 20% school population of First Nation students most of whom come from disparate regions across Australia. This pilot program delivered by TANDANYA in partnership with Kuma Kaaru aimed to introduce and engage year 10, 11, and 12 Indigenous male students in the rich cultural tapestry of the Kaurna people and give context to the traditional custodians of the Adelaide Plains. Led by esteemed Kaurna Custodian Jack Buckskin, the workshop explored Kaurna history, heritage, dance, and artefact making. Kuma Kaaru, founded in 2008, was formed to teach family and local Aboriginal people that have been disconnected from their lands and culture. Kuma Kaaru’s cultural awareness training seeks to enhance participants’ cultural journeys through a comprehensive, in-depth workshop on the foundations of Kaurna Culture. During the two-day workshop students received an introduction to Kaurna genealogy, family and kinship connections and the importance of ancestry in Kaurna culture. An examination of the traditional social structure and practices of the Kaurna people and the significance of local dreaming stories in Kaurna culture were explored as well as the impact of colonisation. The students had the opportunity to participate in hands-on cultural artifact making including boomerangs and were given demonstrations on how to use these items while exploring the symbolism and significance behind different artefacts in Kaurna culture.