Milpirri Sensorium

Milpirri Sensorium

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    Darwin Waterfront, 
    Garramilla (Darwin)

    August 13 -17 
    Darwin Festival

    Program / Film Scenario

    Australian Indigenous cultural heritage is inextricable from music, dance, design, story, ceremony and what Aboriginal people call ‘country’. For the first time off-country, the Sensorium brings Milpirri from Lajamanu, on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert, and onto the saltwater country of the Larrakia.

    A stunning outdoor venue, twenty-seven beautifully colour-coded Milpirri banners bring to life Warlpiri kinship (Warlalja) relationships, Supported by an evocative bilingual soundtrack, alongside rarely-seen performance footage.

    Drawn from the radical 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.

    Enlivening tradition for an intercultural twenty-first-century future” - Steve Wanta Jampijinpa Patrick - Milpirri Creative Director.

    Free Event

    Entry from Goyder Park, Anchorage Court, Darwin Waterfront
    Sun 13 - Thu 17 Aug 2023 
    6:30 pm - Venue Open
    7:00 pm - Sensorium cycles every 40 mins (7:00, 7:40, and 8:20)
    9.00 pm - Venue Close

    Creative Team

    Sensorium Concept: Tim Newth and David McMicken
    Creative Director: (Milpirri): Wanta Steve Jampijinpa Patrick
    Artistic Directors (Milpirri): Tim Newth and David McMicken
    Warlpiri Cultural Advisers, Song Women, Yawulyu dancers: Jerry Jangala Patrick, Myra Nungarrayi Herbert, Agnes Napanangka Donnelly, Judy Napangardi Martin, Ursula Napangardi Marks, Audrey Nakamarra Baker
    Sensorium Video Editor: Duane Preston
    Larrakia Artist - Damibilla (Barramundi) painted designs: Mikaela Lee

    Original Banner Designs

    Drawn by: Joe Japanangka James, Jerry Jangala Patrick, Teddy Jupurrula Morrison, Myra Nungarrayi Herbert, Gladys Napangardi Kelly, Tim Jupurrula Kennedy, Peter Japanangka Dixon, Lindsay Jungarrayi Herbert, Leslie Jampijinpa Robertson, Norman Jampijinpa Kelly, Dick Japaljarri Raymond, Jacko Jakamarra Gordon, Thomas Jangala Sampson, Marcus (Paku Paku) Lawson, Victor Jupurrula Simon, Robin Lawson, Molly Napurrula Tasman, Rosie Napurrula Tasman, Biddy Nungarrayi Long Anderson, Judy Napangardi Martin, Liddy Nampijinpa Miller.

    Original Film Content

    Soundtrack: Walpiri Elders, Marc Pekham (Monkey Marc). Rob Tremlett (Mantra), North Tanami Band (Marine Boy Mix)
    Original Video: Burrundi Pictures, Cutting Edge, VAMP TV, People Pictures
    Addition Lajamanu Footage: Duane Preston
    Film Editing: Duane Preston
    Photographic Portraits: Peter Eve
    Men's and Women's Dance: Warlpirri Elders
    Youth Choreographers: Nick Power, Jessica Rosewarne, Jenelle Saunders, Jess Devereux, Kelly Beneforti, Aaron Lim, David McMicken

    For a full list of performer credits as seen in the Sensorium Film footage check below

    2005 Milpirri - Jardiwarnpa

    2007 Milpirri - Kurdiji

    2009 Milpirri - Jurntu

    2012 Milpirri - Pulyaranyi

    2014 Milpirri - Jardiwanpa

    2016 Milpirri - Kurdiji

    2018 Milpirri - Jurntu

    Production and Promotions Personnel

    Production Manager: Duane Preston
    Technical Assistants: Shaun Trainor and Steph Spillett
    Marketing and Administration: Debbie Jane Micairin
    National Publicist: Julie Clark - HUMANKIND Public Relations
    Documentation: Duane Preston

    Front of House

    Head Usher: Sally Crawford

    Lajamanu Traditonal Owners: Wanta Steve Jampijnpa Patrick, Myra Nungarrayi Herbert (Patrick), Agnes Napanangka Donnelly, Judy Napangardi Martin, Miranda Napurrula Donnelly, Ursula Napangardi Marks, Kitty Napanangka Simon

    Thank You

    Newmont
    Warnyaka Arts Centre: Jake Combe and Charleen Morris
    Central Desert Regional Council
    Lajamanu School
    Darwin Waterfront Corporation
    Darwin Festival, made possible by Darwin Festival's Spotlight Fund supported by Power and Water

     

    Explore Further

    The Milpirri Festival is a bilingual, bicultural celebration. Every two years, on the eve of the wet season, the Lajamanu community and Tracks have come together under the stars of the desert sky. Through dance, music and spectacular visual imagery the energy of the youth and the wisdom of the old come to life.

    Explore the Milpirri story and our creative collaboration with Lajamanu since 1988

    Lajamanu / Milpirri (Indigenous)

    Company Partners

    Tracks Inc. is proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government.

    Project Partners

    Newmont Australia
    Darwin FestivalTracks

    Tracks 2023

    Artistic Director: David McMicken
    Associate Artistic Director: Jess Devereux
    Creative Producer: Britt Guy
    Production Manager: Duane Preston
    Dance Animateurs: Kelly Beneforti and Steph Spillett
    Administrator: Debbie Micairan
    Bookkeeper: It Figures
    Auditors: Brian Tucker Audit

    Committee Members: Chairperson: Max Dewa Stretton. Treasurer: Glenn Bernardin. Ordinary Members: Andrea Wicking, David Taylor, Ken Conway, Lachlan Peattie, Rachael Wallis, Anna Lindsay. Ex-Officio: David McMicken, Tim Newth (on leave 2023)

    Milpirri Sensorium. Denise Napangardi Tasman, Lynette Napangardi Tasman open the banners. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Blue Banners Ngapa Jukurrpa. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Entrance Damibila (Barramundi) by Larrakia woman Mikaela Lee. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Entrance to Sensorium. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Lynette Napangardi Tasman paints up. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Denise Napangardi Tasman applying ochre. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Myra Nungarrayi Herbert singing during paint up. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Ursula Napangardi Marks getting painted up. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Close up of Body Design. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Women pay respects - Manyi Manyi. Myra Nungarrayi Herbert, Lynette Napangardi Tasman. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Women dance Yawulyu. Audrey Nakamarra, Miranda Napurrula Donnelly, Ursual Napangardi Marks, Denise Napangardi Tasman, Agnes Napanangka Donnelley. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Women dance Yawulyu. Audrey Nakamarra, Miranda Napurrula Donnelly, Ursual Napangardi Marks, Denise Napangardi Tasman, Agnes Napanangka Donnelley. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Sensorium Set up. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Warlpiri banner cards. Photo Duane Preston
    Milpirri Sensorium. Sensorium in action. Photo Duane Preston

    Milpirri Symposium

    August 15 - 16
    Tracks Dance Studio

    Lajamanu community members and Tracks Dance present the Milpirri Symposium as part of the 2023 Darwin Festival Milpirri Sensorium. This two-day event invites audience participation in workshops and discussions on the history of the Northern Warlpiri biennial celebration Milpirri.

    Tuesday, August 15, Wednesday, August 16, 9 am - 12.30 pm
    Tracks Dance Studio - Ground Floor Harbour View Plaza, 8 McMinn Street, Darwin

    Symposium Information

     

    Tracks Dance Company Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

    Tracks Inc is proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government.

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