BUNYI BUNYI BUMI: A Dance of Truth and Resilience

The hum of a drum echoes, lights flicker across a stage, and bodies move in sync to a rhythm that feels deeply woven into the land. That’s the kind of energy BUNYI BUNYI BUMI promises when it makes its world premiere at the Bunjil Place Studio from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd February 2025. Presented by Bunjil Place, in association with BlakDance, Asia TOPA, and Arts Centre Melbourne, this groundbreaking new commission sets out to replace tired narratives of trade and Empire with an urgent story of truth, resistance, and resilience. Thrumming with body percussion, passionate dance, and stirring visuals, BUNYI BUNYI BUMI unites an extraordinary cast of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Tamil, and Indonesian artists in a vivid celebration of cultural connection.

Anyone with a keen interest in the power of dance, cross-cultural exchange, or the ways we remember—or misremember—history will find much to love in this new piece. It’s being described by its creative team as a “joyous rebuke of colonial amnesia,” and with the show’s combination of immersive choreography and pulsating music, the experience should prove unforgettable. Whether you’re a dedicated theatre-goer or simply curious about how modern performance can shine a light on ancient truths, BUNYI BUNYI BUMI is set to be a highlight on the 2025 arts calendar.

Celebrating Interconnected Cultures

One of the most compelling aspects of BUNYI BUNYI BUMI is how it draws lines of cultural convergence across seas and continents. The production draws on a variety of Indigenous traditions—from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia to the Tamil and Acehnese communities spanning the Indian Ocean. At a time when globalisation can so often feel like a flattening force, BUNYI BUNYI BUMI flips the narrative, demonstrating how diverse heritages can coexist and strengthen each other.

This story of cross-pollination isn’t a theoretical exercise; it’s physically manifested on stage. The performance is built around dynamic dance, where each step acknowledges the significance of land, language, and lineage. There’s also a strong emphasis on body percussion and syncopated rhythms that evoke both the pounding of the earth and the heartbeat of communities. Audiences can expect to be moved, not just by the visual spectacle, but by the sense of shared humanity that underpins every movement.

Reimagining History Through Dance

BUNYI BUNYI BUMI aims to tackle the way in which certain histories have been forgotten, distorted, or suppressed. In doing so, the performance rejects old colonial assumptions about trade, power, and cultural dominance. Instead, it places front and centre the lived experiences of First Nations and Acehnese peoples, their resilience, and their capacity for reinvention. Co-CEO and Executive Producer of BlakDance Merindah Donnelly underscores this when she says:

Bunyi Bunyi Bumi brings together resilience, identity, and transformation, re-threading First Nations Australian and Acehnese connections across the Indian Ocean.

This focus on dance as a vehicle for storytelling is crucial. Movement taps into a deeper reservoir of memory and intuition, speaking across language barriers and forging emotional connections. Whether a performer is retelling a moment of cultural upheaval or expressing defiance against centuries of subjugation, every gesture acts as a statement of survival and defiance. For audience members, the result is a performance that educates, elevates, and inspires all at once.

The Visionary Minds Behind The Work

BUNYI BUNYI BUMI is co-directed by some of the most innovative names in dance and choreography. raymond d. blanco (Yadhaigana and Erub) and Dr Priya Srinivasan (Tamil) share directing duties, bringing distinct yet complementary perspectives to the show’s conceptual framework. blanco, known for his trailblazing approach to movement, has a knack for weaving narrative threads into visually compelling choreography. Meanwhile, Dr Srinivasan is a professor of dance and an authority on bridging classical and contemporary forms, ensuring that academic rigour merges seamlessly with practical performance.

They are joined by co-devisors like Waangenga Blanco (Meriam and Pajinka Wik), who is an awarded choreographer, and Alfira O’Sullivan (Acehnese), a renowned educator and performer, as well as maestro Murtala (Acehnese) and awarded dancer Tyrel Dulvarie (Yirrganydji). This collective brings together not only a breadth of cultural heritage, but also an impressive array of professional dance expertise. Each of these individuals contributes to a multilayered choreography, infused with personal stories, transnational dialogues, and a profound sense of curiosity.

Adding even more depth to the production is the visual design by Vernon Ah Kee (Kuku Yalanji, Waanji, Yidinji, Gugu Yimithirr), a highly respected conceptual artist whose work often challenges Australian race relations and identity politics. Expect rich, challenging imagery that frames the dancers and underscores the performance’s core messages about collective memory and healing.

An Immersive Performance Experience

One of the best ways to understand the ethos of BUNYI BUNYI BUMI is to think of it as a total experience, rather than a standard dance show. The synergy between choreography, visuals, and sound design fosters a sense of immersion that goes beyond passive viewing. Sequences featuring body percussion will likely draw the audience into the pounding energy of the piece, creating an atmosphere where you can virtually feel the rhythms resonate through the floor.

For those who appreciate theatrical works that keep them on their toes—both literally and figuratively—this performance stands out. The cast weaves in a variety of dance vocabularies, from contemporary expressions to grounded, traditional movements that honour ancestral links. In some sections, the stage lighting may highlight the silhouettes of bodies dancing in unison, while in others, the space could explode with vibrant colour that references Acehnese festivities or Aboriginal ceremonial painting. Through these carefully orchestrated elements, the audience is invited on a journey that blends the ceremonial with the modern, the philosophical with the pragmatic, and the personal with the universal.

Bunjil Place: A Platform For Innovation

Located in the City of Casey, Bunjil Place has been rapidly gaining recognition as a hub of creative innovation and community engagement. It’s not surprising that a performance as ambitious and culturally significant as BUNYI BUNYI BUMI would find its home here. According to Mayor of the City of Casey, Cr Stefan Koomen, hosting the world premiere of such a groundbreaking show exemplifies the type of programming the community wants to champion. “It’s so exciting to have such a significant premiere right here in our community,” he says.

Bunjil Place’s involvement with Asia TOPA—an Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts dedicated to championing creative work from across the region—further underscores the venue’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural exchanges. By bringing in artists, choreographers, and experts from diverse backgrounds, the performance space is effectively transformed into a site for intercultural dialogue. After all, performances like BUNYI BUNYI BUMI have the power to speak directly to communities whose stories have historically been marginalised or misunderstood.

There’s no denying that we live in a world reshaped by ongoing debates around cultural sovereignty, decolonisation, and global interconnection. Against this backdrop, a performance like BUNYI BUNYI BUMI feels urgently relevant. It looks both at the scars of the past and the potential for renewal, asking audiences to confront the complexities of history while revelling in the shared spirit of resilience.

Co-CEO and Executive Producer of BlakDance, Merindah Donnelly, encapsulates this sentiment well when noting how the show “delves into the impacts of globalisation and colonisation, bringing together extraordinary artists from rich cultural perspectives.” At its heart, BUNYI BUNYI BUMI is a call to remember, to acknowledge, and also to celebrate the beauty and strength that emerge when cultures exchange and evolve on their own terms.

A Convergence Of Art And Spirit

The combination of dance, visual art, music, and cultural activism in BUNYI BUNYI BUMI ensures that audiences won’t merely witness a performance—they’ll engage with a convergence of lived experiences. For those with a particular interest in Australian theatre, this piece brings fresh voices to the forefront, weaving together narratives that transcend national borders. Equally, for those drawn to Acehnese or Tamil cultural expressions, the stage offers an invitation to see their heritage represented in an empowering and contemporary light.

Though the piece grapples with weighty themes, it is also described as joyous. That duality—facing the harsh truths of colonial impact but defiantly celebrating cultural ties—could very well be the production’s greatest strength. You can expect to walk away stirred by the athleticism of the performers and the symbolism of the staging, but also buoyed by the sense that dance remains a formidable language of reconciliation and hope.

Dancing Towards Change

When the final beat of the drum fades, and the dancers bow to appreciative applause, the ripples of BUNYI BUNYI BUMI’s message are likely to linger. It’s a show that sees movement as more than just entertainment—it’s a means of collective healing, a way of resisting oppressive narratives, and a testament to the vibrancy of cultures that refuse to be silenced. As more theatres begin embracing such cross-cultural projects, one can only hope that this type of performance becomes the new standard: inclusive, introspective, and revolutionary in its storytelling approach.

BUNYI BUNYI BUMI is set to run for a limited engagement at Bunjil Place from 20th to 23rd February 2025. Tickets are bound to sell quickly, especially given the production’s importance and the calibre of artists involved. If you’re eager to witness an intersection of history and innovation, all through the medium of dance, mark your calendar and prepare for an evening that offers both reflection and revelry.

Resilience

Ultimately, BUNYI BUNYI BUMI stands as a testament to the enduring power of shared experiences. By summoning the voices of First Nations peoples and the Acehnese tradition, the show pushes audiences to look beyond the surface of historical narratives and find deeper, more meaningful truths. It’s a tribute to the fact that art, particularly dance, is one of the most potent tools we have for survival and transformation.

Once you leave the Bunjil Place Studio, the rhythms and images will echo long in your mind—a reminder that while colonisation and globalisation have shaped our world, communities across oceans still find ways to reclaim their stories, honour their ancestors, and light a path forward for future generations. This is performance as resistance, as affirmation, and as celebration. In short, it’s the kind of theatre that has the power to change conversations—and maybe even the world.