In 2022-2023 Marrugeku has convened two practice led research laboratories to explore how relationships between dance, Country, community experience and history can communicate with audiences through intersections of dance and cultural dramaturgies, Nation specific Indigenous dramaturgies, visual/ trans-disciplinary dramaturgies and can be layered in distinct ways for specific communities in in trans-Indigenous and intercultural dramaturgies. The first lab was hosted on Yawuru Country in May 2022 and the second will be on Gadigal, Bidjigal and Gweagal lands of the Eora Nation in July 2023. Following these events the research will be shared with dance and performance communities and artists in a two day public symposium.
The framework for the laboratory processes have been curated and facilitated by Marrugeku’s Co-artistic Directors Yawuru/Bardi choreographer & dancer Dalisa Pigram and Anglo settler director and dramaturg Rachael Swain, drawing on frameworks developed with their long term dramaturgical collaborators Yawuru leader Senator Patrick Dodson and Belgian dance dramaturg Hildegard de Vuyst. In the 2023 lab the guest workshop leaders working with Dalisa and Rachael are dancer, choreographer, curator and scholar Mique’l Dangeli of the Tsimshian Nation of Metlakatla, Alaska and choreographer Radouan Mrigiza of the Amazigh Peoples of Northern Africa.
During the trans-disciplinary workshops each of the 8 working groups of collaborating artists from Australia, Aotearoa, Canada and Morocco will research and develop how their own cultural knowledges, imaginations and responsibilities can be made visible and corporeal and how sharing approaches through trans-Indigenous and intercultural exchange can enable new dramaturgies to emerge. Taking the approach that cultural knowledge holders (working with or working as), choreographers, directors, designers, composers, dramaturgs and co-devising performers all contribute to the dramaturgy of a performance, the laboratory aims to share methodologies and build skills in cultural, conceptual, corporeal and visual approaches to constructing meaning in performance with collaborative teams of artists.
At the culmination of the lab, the two day symposium will share performance excerpts developed during the lab alongside panel discussions on Nation specific dramaturgies, visual dramaturgies, intercultural modes of perception leading to multilayered dramaturgies and cultural safety in experimental dance processes conducted in collaboration with cultural knowledge holders.
Symposium details:
Friday 14 July 1pm – 5.30pm
Saturday 15 July 10am – 4.30pm
Bay 20, Carriageworks
Attendance is free but registration is required.
For further information and media enquiries contact: info@marrugeku.com.au
Image credit: Didirrgun (Kennedy Hill) in Rubibi (Broome) photo by Rachael Swain.
Dance and Cultural Dramaturgies on Contested Land is presented by Marrugeku and hosted by Carriageworks, Sydney. We are grateful for funding support from the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its art funding and advisory body and Indi Indigenous Languages and the Arts, the NSW Government through Create NSW and the Western Australian Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
