What makes aboriginal dance unique

Required resources: same as Activity 1. Students will firstly learn about the Bangarra Dance Theatre to build their knowledge of this group and its aims and performances. These may be similar to the ones from the Aboriginal Fire Dance from the previous lesson, or not. This video is actually a compilation of performances so there are many examples used. The students are encouraged to ask questions about what they have seen and to hypothesise about what knowledge might be being conveyed through this dance.

The class is divided into small groups of four or five students. Each group is to choreograph a second movement piece. The teacher can consider using the same soundtrack as in the Bangarra video, or choose something else appropriately designed to stimulate student creativity.

In the second lesson, after quickly rehearsing their pieces, each group performs to the class. The other members of the class can provide feedback after the performance about how effective the incorporation of the two traditional moves were.

In this creative activity, students organise their work around the most engaging features of the dances they have studied prior, and present their work in their own chosen dance format. This is confirmed by its appearance in ancient paintings in caves and shelters. As part of Aboriginal culture it is used as an accompaniment to songs and chants. Traditionally, it is made from the Eucalyptus trees located in the North of Australia, which were hollowed out by termites.

It consists of a long tube, without fingerholes, through which the player blows. Aboriginals try to replicate the sounds of nature like animals, wind, water, etc. Selection of Trees — Once an appropriate location is found, usually in Northern parts of Australia, an aboriginal craftsman taps the trees to see if it is hollow and suitable trees are cut down.

Clean-out — Termites leave a residue in the hollowed out tree which must be cleaned out. This is done by soaking the wood for a few days in water then prising out the residue with a stick or coals. Sealing — The outside bark is stripped and the stick is then tested for any holes. The stick is sealed from air at both ends and placed in water to check for bubbles. If bubbles are detected the holes are sealed with bees wax.

Decoration — The final step in the process is decorating the instrument through painting and carving symbols on the outside wood. Bullroarer A piece of wood is attached to a long string, which is swung around to produce a pulsating low-pitched roaring sound.

Source: www. Gum-leaf A leaf from a Eucalyptus tree is held against the lips and blown so as to act as a vibrating valve.

The leaf is held tightly against the lower lip and, in a bent shape, lightly against the upper lip. It is then stretched tightly between the two hands to make a high-pitched sound, which was originally intended to imitate birdcalls. Today traditional Aboriginal songs and styles are becoming more popular in mainstream music. In recent times traditional sounding musicians have become popular in Australia and around the world:.

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is an Indigenous Australian singer whose music is becoming increasingly popular in the Australian charts. He was born blind and speaks very little English. He speaks the Yolngu language and is from Northern Australia. Once released, his debut album grew steadily in popularity and eventually hit number 4 in the Australian charts. In Yunupingu was honoured with the Northern Territory Australian of the Year title confirming the increasing popularity and interest in traditional Aboriginal music and culture.

Interest in Aboriginal dance, which is associated with traditional ceremonies, has also grown in popularity. Bangarra Dance Theatre is a dance company, which through performance and art, tells the story of Indigenous Australian history. We can tell our stories with the majesty and poetry that the best dance can deliver and through a contemporary dance language that also holds the traces of a culture that is thousands of years old. Everything is there: all there in the caves, not lost.

Lost your password? The Silent Snake: Pamagirri Pamagirri means silent snake! The Warning Dance: Gurrunga This warning dance was traditionally performed when one tribe enters another tribal area. The Mosquito Dance: Ngukum This dance shows how traditional owners hunt in the mangroves and how they use leaves to hit their bodies to keep mosquitoes away.

During Aboriginal dances, the performers and audience members would use face and body paint which would relate to the character they were demonstrating, or a link to their family. Modern Aboriginal dance.