Laura Dance Festival: Yarrabah dancers perform at Cape event
Seeing whales migrate north indicates an important time of the year for the Yarrabah Kuttbi Gurrabunna dancers – which they explained through a stunning dance routine.
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THE remote Far North community of Laura welcomed about 25 dance troupes from across Cape York to showcase stories through dance routines, sharing history and uniting as one.
Laura is recognised as the central meeting place for people from the Cape York, as well as home to Australia’s most significant collection of rock art as it hosts another internationally recognised celebration of Aboriginal culture – the Laura Quinkan Dance Festival, this year celebrated on from July 2-4.
The dance festival grounds at Laura occupy the site of a very old, traditional Bora ground – a respected and sacred site. It’s become a place and event where families meet new and old family members and exchange, rejuvenate and pass on knowledge and history.
Among the troupes were the Yarrabah Kuttbi Gurrabunna dancers and member Dhumboon Neal said his group’s dance symbolised the migration of whales from the east to the north coast.
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“So when the whale comes up, that’s when tribes know it’s trading season,” Mr Neal said.
“Trading bush tucker, (food), didgeridoos and dance equipment. The dance represents all that.
Performing for the first time at the Laura Festival, Mr Neal said it was a showpiece routine to promote an upcoming festival at Yarrabah next year – where the plan would be to invite multiple Indigenous groups.
He said the dance performed was a traditional Yarrabah routine that had been passed down through the generations.
“We travel up and down the coast every year,” he said.
We go to the Woodford Festival and in October we’ll be heading to 1770 for the festival there.
“I’ve been dancing since I was a little fella. Just protocol by my uncle.”
The Laura festival had been co-ordinated by several different organisations over the years and the Ang Gnarra Aboriginal Corporation recognised it as a significant milestone for the traditional owners.
Originally published as Laura Dance Festival: Yarrabah dancers perform at Cape event
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