Alton, Rickeeta & Richard Walley, Aboriginal Productions Middar Koora ba ye Middar long ago today
Middar … it is dance, it is the red ochre with which we paint our bodies and tell stories of the Boodjar with our movement. Our feet pressing into the earth. Baaminy! Hitting the ground to each beat, connecting to and celebrating our Country. Middar. We remember the dances, songs and stories that were taught to us by our old people, who were taught by their old people before them and before them. These teachings continued on for thousands of generations.
the Middar Aboriginal Dance Group. Soon after the group were joined by Lewis Collard and Theo Kearing in 1977 – 78, and Shane ‘Scrub’ Abdullah and Morton Hansen in the '80s. Many more would join Middar over its decades of performance and touring. During the inception and early days, Middar became one of the only publicly performing Aboriginal dance groups in the southwest. Middar's journey started with the sharing of culture through song, dance, didgeridoo and contemporary performance. It was important to Middar that they shared the dances that were taught to them in their youth, The Middar dance group held the value that it was never too late to learn, partake in and represent your culture. Bo Boodjarak koorliny! As interest in the high energy and incredible skill of traditional Aboriginal dance and song grew, Middar recieved invitations to perform both nationally and on the international stage. The group toured throughout Australia, across many countries and cross-culturally exchanged with Indigenous people around the world. From the humble beginnings of four Aboriginal men wanting to share their culture, they could proudly say that Middar had successfully done so in every continent.
Until they did not.
For over half a century throughout the 1900s, multiple state government legislations were put in place in an attempt to stifle Aboriginal cultural practices. These included the criminalisation of many Indigenous languages and practices of traditional song and dance. Nyornditj, warra. In many areas throughout Australia, there were periods of time in which our dances were not practiced, taught or shared publicly. In 1976 in Boorloo/Perth, four Aboriginal men — Richard Walley (Nyoongar-Yamatji), Ernie Dingo (Yamatji), Ken Buckskin (Nunga) and John Kelly (Arrentre) — created
Throughout the journey of touring dance and song globally, the group would also go on to register as an Aboriginal Theatre Trust, venturing into the dramatic arts. Ngarla waangk! Storytelling is an inherent part of many Aboriginal cultures, and Middar quickly became iconic cultural storytellers through dance, music and on the big stage. Boola, this means many, and Middar have had many stories throughout their nearly 50-year presence. Boola – many countries that they visited,
many celebrities that they met and many heartfelt and comedic stories of an Aboriginal group on a worldwide tour. Boola – many dancers that can call themselves Middar, many dance groups that have come from Middar and many generations that continue to be taught, dance and represent today as Middar.
Boola. There are many stories, all of which come from one momentous beginning.
Rickeeta Walley
12
Presented with Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company
13
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator