MILPIRRI SENSORIUM AND YINAPAKA

MILPIRRI SENSORIUM AND YINAPAKA

Lajamanu Community

September 19th 2024

This years Milpiiri involved live performance by the youth and women of Lajamanu, and the first Lajamanu screening of the Milpirri Sensoruinm film. It was performed on the community basketball court with the Milpirri banners as the backdrop. An ongoing artistic and cultural partnership between Lajamanu Community and Tracks Dance.

Grown from a 30-year collaboration between the Lajamanu Community and Tracks Dance Company, Milpirri links the energy of youth and the wisdom of the old, gaining a better understanding of Western and Warlpiri ways of learning.

Lajamanu is situated on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert. The Milpirri performance is radically local and is performed by and for the Warlpiri people.

Yinapaka 2024

This year Milpirri was based on Yinapaka, a ceremonial ground in the Tanami Desert known in English as Lake Surprise. It is the place where birds go to learn how to fly. Yinapaka is literally a slap, but it also means a wake-up, a lightbulb moment of realisation.

“On the dried-up banks of the lake known as Yinapaka, or Lake Surprise, birds are gathering for the Sky Ceremony. Once the ceremony ground is ready, the white cockatoos all flock down towards the ceremony space, It is as if the stars themselves have arrived.”, Wanta Jampijinpa Patrick,  Milpirri Creative Director

Tracks and Lajamanu have been working on this performance since before COVID, but the disruptions of that pandemic have had ramifications ever since. One year we created the soundtrack with Monkey Marc and Mantra. In 2021 we were able to get into the community for a short time and run a few dance workshops and get the vocals recorded for the soundtrack. In 2022 and 2023 we were able to choreograph the youth dances, but the performance was only able to be presented at the school. and with the major disruptions in the world, and especially in remote Indigenous communities, we are excited to have been able to finally present Yinapaka to the wider Lajamanu Community in 2024.  

In 2024, Tracks artists Jess Devereux and Bec Reid spent September in the community training the young dancers at school into the choreography of 6 dances. Although the dances had been created and taught at the school before, they were adapted and rehearsed, giving the students who had done it before a chance to further master their dance skills. During this time school attendance lifted and the fitness, stamina, and concentration of the students got better and better.

Despite the unseasonal rain shutting down the Lajamanu road making it almost impossible to get our production truck in, we were finally able to bring the entire Tracks team (9 arts workers) into the community to produce the community work. Transforming the basketball court, the place where the very first Miol[irri was performed in 2005, into a venue for dancing and video work. The evening began with the School handing out awards for the term. This was followed by the youth dancers and some Yawulyu ceremonial women’s dancing. The evening concluded with the Milpirri Sensorium, a video representation of Milpirri dancing going back to 2005. The community sat spellbound seeing their legacy laid out in front of them. As Jerry Jangala once said: "Yapa's history is laid out in front of them, creating a pathway to travel into the future".

Ursula Napangardi Marks and Denise Napangardi Tasman. Photo Duane Preston

Scenario

Introduction and Fire Dance - the ceremonial ground is cleared
Karnka (The Crow) - is smart, but a lier
Wirntiki (The Stone Curlew) - can fly high, but plays with fire
Winyiwinpa (The Spotted Harrier) - pretends to be a good hunter but gets others to do the work
Kirrkalunji (The Brown Hawk) - hunter without fear, acts brave but cannot sustain it.
Warlawurru and Yankirri (Eagle and Emu) - find the right teacher. The emu was the one who taught the eagle how to fly high. 

Yawulyu Dances: Wardipi (Goanna), Ngapa (Rainstorm), Yumurrpa (a place).

Sensorium

Youth watching Sensorium. Photo Duane Preston

After creating and premiering the Milpirri Sensorium to the Darwin Festival in 2023, we return the multimedia event to Lajamanu for this years Milpirri. Stunning visual banners, extraordinary archival film footage, live performances from Senior dancers, and a youth dance component that re-envisions Warlpiri knowledge transference from stories of Birds around Yinapaka.

Performers

Youth Performers

Year 4/5

Damieliah Nakamarra Anzac, Jane Nampijinpa Patrick, Joel Jakamarra Gordon, Joshua Japaljarri Jurrah, Kayanna Napanangka Jinderah, Kevin  Jungarrayi Dai, Nickquisha Napaljarri Farquharson, Sharon Napanangka Poulson, Rexanthia Nampijinpa Martin, Shaquille Jupurrula Ross, Tinkerbell Napangardi Farquharson, Zoe Napaljarri Robertson

Year 6/7

Ambilena Nampijinpa Kelly, Colahnia Nakamarra Mosquito, Corinthaian (Stinger) Japanangka Jigili, Della Nakamarra White, Ezekiah (Bong-Bong) Japangardi Peters, Jennifer Nampijinpa King, Kenneth Jakamarra Walker, Loureed Napanangka Poulson, Nemo (Peter) Jangala Ross, Orsen Jupurrula Fernandez, Sherlonia Nangala Jigilia, Steven (Randy) Japanangka Dixon, Tamah Nakamarra  Sambo

Senior Boys

Jonas Jakamarra Cook, Colin Jakamarra Morton, Thomas Japaljarri Doolan, Zane Jampijinpa Hargraves, Joash Jampijinpa Leo

Senior Girls

Affenie Napurrula Crowson, Zacquasha (Dolly) Nampijinpa Gumbala, Vernalia Nampijinpa Martin, Prestina Napaljarri Spencer, Charlita Napanangka Poulson, Anika Napangardi Luther

Yawulyu Women

Singers: Myra Nungarrayi Herbert, Judy Napangardi Martin
Dancers: Miranda Napurrula Donnelly, Ursula Napangardi Marks, Denise Napangardi Tasman, Laura Nakamarra Doolan, Ruth Nangala Jigili 
Lynette  Napangardi Tasman: Assisting painting up

Creative Team

Creative Director: Wanta (Steve) Jampijinpa Patrick
Senior Elder: Jerry Jangala Patrick
Artistic Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
Music: Mark Peckham (Monkey Marc), and Rob Tremlett (Mantra)
Voiceovers: Steve Jampijinpa Patrick, Jerry Jangala Patrick, Maxwell Japanangka Gordon
Vocals: Lajamanu School students, 2020
Multimedia: Duane Preston
Choreographers: Bec Reid and Jess Devereux (based on material originally created by Jordan Bretherton, Madeleine Brown, and SJ Spillett)

Production and Promotions Personnel

Producers: Tracks Dance Company
Company Director: Sean Pardy
Administrator: Jocelyn Tribe
Production Manager: Duane Preston
Sound Technician: I Made Liam Bulalasia
Lighting Technician: Sean Pardy
Additional Production Support: Andre Sawenko, Tim Newth
Milpirri Image and Design: Mark Marcelis
Photo Documentation: Duane Preston
Video Production: Me Thinks Media
Editing: Andre Sawenko
Camera: Andre Sawenko

Thank You

Staff of: Lajamanu School, Central Desert Regional Council, Central Lands Council, Warnayaka Arts Centre, Di and the Kalkarindji Council Office,  Daniel at 1300 Temp Fence, Northern Territory Police, Lajamanu Health Clinic, and the many families and people that call Lajamanu home who have helped in the making of this Milpirri.

Supporting Partners

Central Desert Shire, Warlpiri Education and Training Trust, Warnayaka Arts Centre, Lajamanu School.

Company Partners

Tracks Inc is proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government.

Project Partner

Proudly Supported by Newmont International through their Community Investment Program

Supporting Partners

Central Desert Shire, Warlpiri Education and Training Trust, Warnayaka Arts Centre, Lajamanu School.

Tracks 2024

Artistic Director: David McMicken
Company Director: Sean Pardy
Associate Artistic Director: Jess Devereux
Production Manager: Duane Preston
Creative Producer: Britt Guy
Dance Animateurs: Kelly Beneforti, S.J. Spillett, Jenelle Saunders
Administrator: Debbie Micairan
Bookkeeper: It Figures
Auditors: Brian Tucker Audit

Committee Members: Chairperson: Max Dewa Stretton/David Taylor. Treasurer: Glenn Bernardin. Ordinary Members: Andrea Wicking, David Taylor, Max Stretton, Lachlan Peattie, Rachael Wallis, Anna Lindsay, Venaska Cheliah, Sarah Rennie. Ex-Officio: David McMicken, Sean Pardy

Tracks Dance Company Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Tracks Inc is proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government.

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