Dhinawan Dance
The Deadly Dancers: School meets the Community
A community man, Dhinawan teaches the Indigenous
Youth, the beauty of their Culture. It all started at Brunswick Heads
Public School when Dhinawan met the school staff and Principal Mr
Channels to discuss a Coroboree Program for all the Indigenous
students. There, were born the Deadly Dancers! For 2 hours/week during
a five week period, Dhinawan trained all these beautiful students to
dance, sings and play the didgeridoo. The parents came to watch their
children at practice and the Mums got really close and so did some of
the Dads. And soon with the involvement of families, school staff and
community workers, out of schools camps and afternoon by the river were
organised. The women and Girls making feather belts while the Men and
Boys would cut spears and learn to throw them Proper Way
with Dhinawan and the Uncles. These children have grown up and most of
them are now at Mullumbimby High School and Shearwater Steiner School,
and are still dancing! Just taking the Coroboree Program with them in
their new school!
The project didnt stop there and the word got around all the way to
Lismore and Goodooga!
Invited to Lismore Heights and Jarjum Pre school, Dhinawan got to teach
Coroboree to all the Indigenous Students there and are now often
invited to perform at local events as well as Southern Cross
University! This so beautiful to see these children teaching their
Culture at such a young age. So now, they all mix it up! The dancers
from Brunswick and Mullumbimby corboree with the Lismore Kids! Too
Deadly!
Many of these children had the shame factor or some learning
difficulties and in just a short time had come out of their shells and
learnt how to stand up and be proud and Deadly!
Making strong bonds with the other Koori kids is how to get the best of
our Kids!
The Deadly Dancers are now often invited to
perform at local events in local schools. This has truly created a
cultural awareness in our community and most of the Indigenous Families
are now participating.
Dhinawan is now often accompanied by the seniors of the Deadly dancers
and few of them have been dancing at events such as The Blues Fest,
Splendour in the Grass, Quiksilver Pro opening and much more.
Phone: 02 66 80 58 21
Email: info@dhinawandreaming.com.au