Arts/Dance/Culture/Indigenous/Entertainment: Contemporary dance embedded in First Nations culture breaks ground on Gold Coast

Stopping in Cairns on Wednesday 7 September as part of its eight-stop tour of Queensland is a potent and powerful dance performance by Karul Projects that transforms the stage in a dramatic search for answers evading contemporary Australia and First Nations’ human rights.

Featuring seven performers on a stage slowly engulfed in dirt, SILENCE is a seminal, First Nations Australian work developed on a rich and raw narrative that abounds in struggle for land back and the call for Treaty.

Produced by BlakDance and choreographed by one of Karul Projects’ co-founder and director, Thomas E. S. Kelly, SILENCE breaks the silence using dynamic live percussion from Jhindu-Pedro Lawrie that drives the dancers in their exploration of past, present, alternate realities and dreamscapes of Country, the milky way and Murun, the emu in the sky.

Thomas E. S. Kelly:

With symbolism heavily steeped in land rights and Treaty, the show explores what a 250 plus yearlong denial of meaningful listening to First Nations people has done to the psyche of the people and land. Brown feet kick up sand, earth, dirt, and dust. The sand seeps through brown fingers as it always has. Always was, always will be.

Founded in 2017 by Thomas E.S. Kelly, Minjungbal-Yugambeh, Wiradjuri and Ni- Vanuatu, and Taree Sansbury, Kaurna, Narrunga and Ngarrindjerri, Karul Projects is a First Nations company and emerging force in Australian contemporary dance theatre based on Minjungbal Jogan.

Season Details

Venue: Theatre 1
Date: 31 Aug – 01 Sep 2022

For more information click HERE