Djuki Mala
An Inspiring Mob
By Kirsty Duffy
Hailed as energetic, hilarious and ground-breaking. Djuki Mala (Djuki meaning 'Chooky' with a Yolngu accent and Mala meaning 'mob') are a crew of talented story tellers who celebrate and share their culture and history through contemporary dance.
The main current performers; Yalyalwuy Gondarra, Baykali Ganambarr, Didiwarr Yunupingu originated from the top end of the Territory and Queensland and they, and past Djuki Mala members from Arnhem land have really set the stage.
The adventure began in 2007 with an original dance to the tune of Zorba the Greek. The you tube clip of a the originally named “Chooky Dancers” went viral. From remote regional Elcho island off the coast of Arnhem Land Northern Territory, their first dance was created Lionel Dulmanawuy, and uploaded by his son Frank which began a journey never imagined. Filmed on a basketball court, these boys had the moves, they had the rhythm, they were funny, and unbeknown to them they were going somewhere.
People had payed attention it seemed. They had created contemporary Indigenous dance theatre by combining traditional Indigenous dance and contemporary dance - a unique Australian work and a niche that was perhaps not filled.
Photo credi: smh.com.au