Festival in its 16th year

Local indigenous performer Sermsah “Suri” Bin Saad and his dance partner and niece Ann-Janette Phillips will bring the spirit of Aboriginal culture to life in contemporary splendour next week when they return to the Mowanjum Festival.

The duo will open the festival with dramatic performances to mark its 16th anniversary. The festival is WA’s largest indigenous corroboree open to the public. Around 150 indigenous performers from across the Kimberley will converge in a collaborative program developed from traditional story, song and dance.

For the first time, traditional Mowanjum dancers will be joined by the Miriwoong Gajerrong dancers from Kununurra.

The festival, at the renowned Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre in Derby, has grown over the 16 years it has been held.

It has served an important role in the development of cultural exchange and maintenance and reconciliation.

This year, Bin Saad and Phillips will explore themes of light and dark and metamorphosis.

Bin Saad said the idea was to focus on the concept of light and dark which “keeps the balance” with yin and yang and how this translates to spiritual connectedness of the earth, the mind and the heart.

The performers will also translate the concept of metamorphosis through dance, using the symbol of the butterfly.

Bin Saad said the performance was dedicated to his mother when she passed away.

“She had an affinity with the butterfly,” he said.“ The butterfly was how she connected to her spirituality. The butterfly is a real symbol in reference to who she was.”

Bin Saad said he loved performing to audiences and was delighted to return to the festival for a third time.

“I love performing, it’s so special,” he said.

“We got such acceptance from the elders…we’ve kept it contemporary but it still remains traditional.”

The festival has played a significant role in keeping culture alive, as well as forging a strong link with non-indigenous people, enabling them to witness and learn from the stories and their significance to Mowanjum people.

The Mowanjum Festival will be held on Thursday, July 11. Gates open at 2pm and dancing will start at sundown.

Tickets are available at the gate and cost $20 for adults or $5 for children. For more information visit www.mowanjumarts.com/index.php/our-festival/.