Young dancers from Miriki Performing Arts at a dress rehearsal ahead of the world premiere of Gulgi-Barra during Cairns Festival on August 25.

‘SAND PEOPLE’ HONOURED IN CAIRNS FESTIVAL WORLD PREMIERE

Excitement is mounting in the rehearsal space as the world premiere draws near of Gulgi-Barra, an important local dance work created for Cairns Festival that will take audiences on a journey of discovery of the ancient sand people.

The Miriki Performing Arts production features a cast of 60 dancers and singers telling the story of this old Yidinji clan group whose ancestral custodians lived within traditional homelands in and around what is now known as Trinity Inlet.

Directed by Miriki assistant artistic director and head choreographer Balla Neba, Gulgi-Barra brings together Miriki developing artists aged seven to 16 years, cultural advisor Uncle David Mundraby’s Dabul Dancers from Yarrabah, the Kingdom Voices Choir and the NRL Cowboys House Ensemble from Townsville.

Balla Neba said the show came together after a series of interpretive workshops exploring the sand stories and the way the clan used it in their daily lives.

“It is a very special story and I am honoured that Uncle David and Aunty Roberta Mundraby have trusted Miriki with this story.

“The Gulgi-Barra or sand people are not there anymore, and I believe Uncle David is only one of a handful of living descendants of that tribe,” he said.

“We are going to be performing on the Esplanade Lawn in front of the Pier in the twilight with natural lighting, allowing the country to talk and us to talk to country.

“The show starts off with Uncle David and the Dabul dancers, blessing the dance space and audience with a prayer in language. It’s beautiful.

“Then the Cowboys Ensemble dancers come out, the Miriki walk out and then the Kingdom Voices choir, with their beautiful soulful harmonies, sing We Are Gathering, a traditional peace song.”

Tiffany Beckwith-Skinner, who is widely respected in the fashion, TV and music industries with three decades experience working with artists like Powderfinger, Russell Crowe and Usher, has created the traditional country and Paris-Milan catwalk-inspired contemporary costumes for the performance.

Balla Neba also acknowledged Tristan Barton as an important collaborator, creating a moving video and short film for Gulgi-Barra, incorporating Uncle David Mundraby’s song line of the Gulgi-Barra story.

“Seeing all these people come together is quite an emotional experience. I am so proud of our dancers.

“A lot of these young people come from different challenges in their homes, schools or families but they are so very consistent and committed and have pushed themselves to learn so much in a short amount of time.

“I know I forget I am working with little people – I see them as artists. Dance is a tool of engagement to connect with each other and audience. It is a medium. There is healing in dance when it is done properly.”

Miriki Performing arts chief executive officer and artistic director Pauline Lampton said the team first talked about the concept of sand as a theme for a show in 2022 before consulting cultural advisors Uncle David Mundraby and Aunty Roberta Mundraby who shared stories of the sand people.

“I think we have a real knack for story-telling and people enjoy a really good show when we put all the elements together,” she said.

Ms Lampton said they had been in rehearsals since February.

“The one thing we want to portray is that we are one, we are altogether, there are differences, but our history is a shared history.

“Even though the Gulgi-Barra people are from a long way back we are all part of that history because we are all sharing the same time and space – don’t look at our differences but at our similarities.”

Gulgi-Barra is a free performance. It opens on Friday, August 25, the first of five shows, including one matinee, over four days.

Cairns Festival runs from Friday, August 25, until Sunday, September 3. For the full program of music, theatre, film, dance and events and more information go to  www.cairnsfest.com.au.

ENDS