The inaugural Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival is set to open on 10 February with Troy Cassar-Daley taking to the Federation Square stage to kick off the three day event.
The Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival will celebrate the breadth of contemporary and traditional artistic expression amongst Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with theatre, music, writing, film, cabaret, dance and more.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the festival will be the first of its kind in Melbourne.
“Our city has a rich history, yet the custodians of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture have not always been heard.”
“The Festival will celebrate this history with a diverse program of everything from contemporary and traditional dance, to music as well as some of our existing programs including Blak Nite Cinema and the Laneway Commissions. Best of all, it’s completely free.” the Lord Mayor said.
MUSIC: Troy Cassar-Daley, Deline Briscoe, Yung Warriors, Dan Sultan, Casey Donovan, Skin, Bart Willoughby, Leah Flanagan, King Kadu & The Sunshine Sisters, Meriki Hood Radical Son,Archie Roach, Illana Atkinson, Kutcha Edwards, the Maza Sisters, Lee Morgan, Liz Cavanagh, Dave Arden, Lady Lash and Patrick Mau (aka Maupower).
THEATRE: Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Blak Cabaret, a cocktail of comedy, music, poetry and dancing, featuring Kutcha Edwards, Dave Arden, Bart Willoughby, Peter Rotumah, Robbie Bundle, Uncle Herb, Bear, Black Elvis, Lisa Maza, Illana Atkinson, Johnny Harding, Jida Gulpilil Murray, Kevin Kropinyeri, Shiralee Hood, Mia Stanford, Denise McGuinness, Rieo Ellis, Josh Bond, Jimmy Peters and DJ Crystal McKinnon Constantina Bush & the Bushettes – join Constantina Bush, aka Kamahi Djordan King, a talented Gurindji man, and those naughty Bushettes .
Down at the Earth Stage located on the lower terrace at Birrarung Marr, Lu''arn, a contemporary dance performance will engage audiences.
Encompassing, ritual and puppetry performance, inspired by a traditional Boon Wurrung (Kulin Nation clan/Melbourne) story, choreographer Jacob Boehme brings Victorian Indigenous stories to life through the magic of modern dance. Saturday 11 February and Sunday 12 February at 8.30pm.
On the Earth Stage will be Koorioboree which celebrates the special occasion of traditional dance groups from around Victoria coming together to present and share a resilient culture through song, dance, language and ceremony. Join Jindi Worabak, Pooleeyt Marr, One Fire, Wotjobaluk, Damanmu Bangerang and Koori Youth Will Shake Spears.
All this plus conversations, screen, and much more! Check out the program for full Festival event details.
WHAT: Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival
WHEN: Friday 10 February – Sunday 12 February 2012
WHERE: Various locations around Federation Square: Main stage – ACMI – BMW Edge – Birrarung Marr – ArtPlay
MORE INFORMATION:
>www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/iaf
.jpg)