In August, Marrugeku returned to Gunbalanya (Kunbarlanya), Western Arnhem Land, to take part in the Stone Country Festival — back on the ground where our journey began.
Marrugeku started with the project Mimi which was commissioned by the Festival of Perth to premiere in 1996. Mimi was based on the stories of Kunwinjku painter and storyman Thompson Yulidjirri and the Karrparra song cycle of Kunwinjku songman Bruce Nabegeyo. Mimi was developed from an original concept by Kamilaroi/Mandandanji choreographer Michael Leslie in collaboration with Stalker Theatre, then known worldwide for acrobatic dancing on stilts. Mimi was like nothing that had been seen before and created a sensation in Australia and worldwide. The production was co-devised by Kunwinjku storytellers, musicians and dancers, the West Australian First Nations dancers Michael brought to the project, and physical theatre performers from Stalker Theatre. Mimi was directed by Rachael Swain who founded Marrugeku with Michael Leslie in 1994. Marrugeku was created as a result of the project Mimi and was therefore co-founded by a large group of artists from diverse backgrounds.
To mark 30 years since Mimi’s first seasons at Perth Festival, Gunbalanya, Maningrida, Galiwinku and Yirrkala in 1996, Stone Country Festival was a space to share stories and archival footage, and dance again with our Kunwinjku family. It was both grounding and humbling to reconnect to the origins of our intercultural and trans-Indigenous practice and the relationships that continue to guide our work. From Mimi (1996) to today, Marrugeku has grown as a meeting place for diverse artists, Indigenous knowledges, contemporary performance and radical collaboration. Now after 21 years based Rubibi/ Broome in the Kimberley, Marrugeku continues to make work that travels between remote and urban, local and global situations — always led by Country, culture and connection.
Photograph of Marrugeku at Stone Country Festival, Gunbalanya.
Image Credit: Stone Country Festival
