DJUKI MALA to tour Regional WA
Djuki Mala have played 700+ live performances to over 500,000 people in 73 cities and towns, in 27 different countries across 11 years. Now it’s regional Western Australia that will experience their landmark theatrical show in 2020 for the first time.
Djuki Mala (Djuki meaning ‘bird’ with a Yolngu accent and Mala meaning ‘mob’) have been thrilling audiences and touring extensively, both nationally and internationally - an amazing achievement for performers coming from one of Australia’s most remote communities.
Djuki Mala’s highly energized dancers present their re-interpretation of pop culture, dance and story-telling, juxtaposing traditional dances with contemporary Yolngu culture. By embracing a variety of styles, Djuki Mala pay tribute to Motown, Bollywood, techno, hip-hop, breakdance, krumping and classic numbers. There’s a salute with umbrellas, to Singing in the Rain against the backdrop of their spectacularly beautiful island home. Michael Jackson’s black suit and spangled glove are slipped into a Billie Jean routine, all done with a hefty dose of heart and soul.
Interspersed with multimedia, this retrospective and autobiographical show, is a marvel of timing, comedy and clowning and offers a rare and insightful view into Aboriginal Australia, leaving the audience feeling genuinely happy!
Direct from Elcho Island, North East Arnhem Land, Djuki Mala’s extraordinarily humble journey started twelve years ago. Beginning in 2007 Frank Djirrimbilpilwuy uploaded a video clip of the group dancing an exuberant interpretation of ‘Zorba the Greek’ at Ramingining Festival. Frank’s daughter was cared for by a woman of Greek heritage in Darwin, the dance showcased how two strong cultures could come together. The clip was an overnight success and went viral with currently over 2.8 million views.
Djuki Mala have performed in the movie Bran Nue Dae, ABC TV’s You Can’t Ask That, Secret River, Move It Mob Style, Network Ten’s Totally Wild, Kids WB and at major festivals and events throughout Australia, UK, China, the Pacific, US, Canada, Taiwan, Europe, and the Middle East including Lebanon, Egypt and Cyprus, attracting massive media interest and winning multiple awards and nominations. Over thirty young men have danced in the troupe and members have performed alongside high profile Australian artists including: John Butler, Jessica Mauboy, Kate Miller Heidke, Yothu Yindi and Blue King Brown to name a few.
Dancers include: Baykali Ganambarr, Yalyalwuy Gondarra, Tibian Wyles and Watjarr Garmu.
¨ Sold-out seasons FRINGE WORLD Festival, Perth 2017, 2018 and 2019
WINNERS Dance & Physical Theatre Award FRINGE WORLD 2017
West Australian Arts Editors Award FRINGE WORLD 2017
¨ 5 star reviews and a hugely successful season at the 2018 and 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
¨ UNISA for Excellence in Aboriginal Creative Arts at the 2018 Adelaide Fringe Festival.
¨ Lead dancer Baykali Ganambarr won the Marcello Mastroianni Best Young Talent Award at the Venice Film Festival for his debut performance in the Australian feature movie The Nightingale. The movie premiered worldwide at the Venice Film Festival ahead of its Australian premiere, which took place at the Adelaide Film Festival in October 2018. Baykali also picked up the Male Actor of the Year Award at the national 2018 Dreamtime Awards held in Sydney in November 2018 and was nominated as Best Lead Actor in the 2019 AACTA Awards.
¨ Djuki Mala feature in the opening moments of Vegemite’s Taste of Australia TV commercial.
¨ The troupe appeared in the music video clip Native Tongue by the incredible MOJO JUJU, with Djuki Mala’s Artistic Director Joshua Bond at the helm as Creative Producer. The video clip took out the Triple J 2018 “J Awards” Australian Music Video of the Year, along with the Best Music Video Award at the inaugural First Nations Media Awards. Rounding out the accolades, the video clip was also nominated for a 2018 ARIA Award.
¨ Adelaide based member Yalyalwuy Gondarra has been involved in filming on the major Australian feature film Higher Ground shot in the NT and also recently appeared in Operation Buffalo on ABC TV.
¨ Djuki Mala helped to launch the career of Danzel Baker aka Baker Boy – Australia’s hottest indigenous solo rap artist winner of the 2019 Young Australian of the Year and 2018 Triple J “J Awards” Male Artist of the Year.
¨ Assisted new gen indigenous artist Yirrmal Marika, who mixes traditional songs with a western style.
“There is no better offering at this year’s Perth Fringe Festival…tremendous fun.”
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN ★★★★★
Get a Djuki Mala sneak preview here
For images see dropbox link https://bit.ly/3blz600
DURATION: 70 minutes
AGE SUITABILITY: 5+ (all Ages)
Full itinerary see
Saturday, 3 October Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
Sunday, 4 October Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre
Wednesday, 7 October Arts Narrogin, Narrogin Town Hall*
Friday, 9 October Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre
Saturday, 10 October Sandra Donovan Sound Shell, Manjimup
Sunday, 11 October Albany Entertainment Centre
Wednesday, 14 October Ravensthorpe Town Hall*
Friday, 16 October Esperance Civic Centre*
Saturday, 17 October Goldfields Arts Centre, Kalgoorlie
Tuesday, 20 October Cummins Theatre, Merredin
Friday, 23 October Yalgoo Community Centre, Yalgoo*
Sunday 25 October Peace Gorge, Meekatharra
Thursday, 5 November Ningaloo Community Centre, Exmouth
Sunday, 8 November Newman Recreation Centre*
Thursday, 12 November Red Earth Arts Precinct, Karratha
Saturday, 14 November Ngurin Centre* & Roebourne Cultural Complex Amphitheatre
Friday, 20 November Broome Civic Centre*
*Public workshops check venue website for details
Website: djukimala.com | Twitter: twitter.com/djukimala | Facebook: facebook.com/djukimalaofficial
Instagram: instagram.com/djuki_mala