Kurrobori
This original dance video by Peta Strahan (Jannawi Dance Clan), was specially commissioned by the NT and WSU. Through dance, image and song, the work interprets elements of the Dharug creation story of Kurrobori, who ‘comes from the Spirit Land which exists in the Morning Star’ (aka Venus). Deploying both contemporary and traditional dance, Strahan and the Jannawi Clan evoke the Sea Spirits, the Storytellers, Kurrobori herself, the formation of the land, and the plants and flowers she ‘caused’ (the white waratah is featured here). The video was recorded at Shaw’s Creek, on the Lands of the Boorooberongal Clan, Dharug Nation.
A very long time ago, many thousands upon thousands of years ago, This Land was covered by the sea. Nothing grew here as we know it today, nothing lived here as we know it today. Only the Spirits of the sea inhabited the sea which covered This Land. Kurrobori, the Spirit Woman, who comes from beyond the Rising Sun, from the Spirit Land which exists in the Morning Star, was passing by in her travels across the sky, and saw the water and the sea spirits. Kurrobori stopped in her travels and caused This Land to rise up and the water to flow from the land. The sea spirits became very much afraid, and in their fear they left the river and valleys as their tracks, and pushed up the mountains as they fled to the retreating sea. Kurrobori saw This Land and was pleased. She caused plants to grow to give her food, and caused trees to grow to give her shelter in which to rest, and caused the flowers to bloom on the plants and the trees to make her glad with what she had created. Kurrobori was happy, she had made This Land beautiful.
CREDITS
Choreographer, Concept Peta Strahan
Producer Kate Richards, WSU
Videographer/Compositer Miguel Felipe Valenzuela
Additional Camera Sam Freeman (drone); Sean James Cassidy (studio)
Songman Traditional Dance Matthew Doyle, Lyrics Richard Green
Contemporary star music (the late) David Page
Recorded on Dharug Land at Shaw’s Creek Aboriginal Place, NSW and on Gadigal Land (Sydney Props and Photo Studio)
Thanks to Jasmin Gulash; Corina Norman, Raelene Billedo ofDharug Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation; to Shaw’s Creek Custodian Julie Webb; NSWNPWS.
JANNAWI DANCERS
Peta Strahan
Dubs Yunupingu
Guppi Yunupingu
Bianca Williams
Aroha Pehi
Katie Leslie
Mia Niuqila
Jumikah Donovan
Shanaya Donovan