Dancing their way from WA to USA
Learning the traditional dances of their ancestors is not only helping Aboriginal students develop pride and confidence, it is opening doors to experiences such as overseas travel.
Seven students from the Presbyterian Ladies' College Gorna Liyarn indigenous program have been invited to showcase Aboriginal dance at a world folk festival in Utah in the US this month.
They will also share a cultural exchange with the Chumash Native Americans, traditional owners of Los Angeles, and perform at a museum there.
Program co-ordinator Tracey Walker said the group had performed recently to music by Aboriginal composer and didgeridoo player Phillip Walley-Stack, who suggested they take part in the festival.
Gorna Liyarn means "strong heart" and is derived from the Bardi and Yawuru languages of the west Kimberley.
Ms Walker said she formed the dance group three years ago after seeing how successful a similar group had been at Wesley College.
"We used to hire these boys to perform at our NAIDOC and reconciliation assemblies and were impressed not only by their dancing but by the confidence and pride in culture that was evident among these boys," she said. "This led to the formation of our own girls' dance group and we are now seeing the same confidence and pride in our girls."
She said the students were all from remote communities and most had never been out of Australia, so they were excited about the trip, for which they had been raising funds for the past four months. Lyndi Bradshaw, 15, from Fitzroy Crossing said the confidence she learnt from performing on stage had carried over into the classroom. Jadaja Torres, 14, from Broome, said dancing was one of her passions and she enjoyed learning dance moves from other tribes.
