Marrugeku – Australia’s unique Indigenous and intercultural dance company – celebrates 25 years of ground-breaking performance this month with the online launch of its stunning book, Marrugeku: Telling That Story.
Published by Performance Research Books, Wales, and stunningly designed by Alphabet Studio with over 140 images, Telling That Story traces the inception of Marrugeku in the small Kunwinjku community of Kunbarlanja in West Arnhem Land to its current homes on Yawuru Country, Broome, and Gadigal Land, Sydney.
The voices of June Oscar, Patrick Dodson, Djon Mundine, Vicki van Hout, Alison Croggan, Omid Tofighian and more are shared through essays and interviews presented alongside script excerpts and documentation to provide a rich representation of Marrugeku’s incredible legacy and emerging future directions.
There will be a live streamed launch of the book on Wednesday 29 September at 8pm.
At the launch you’ll hear from editors Helen Gilbert, Dalisa Pigram and Rachael Swain in conversation with Latai Taumoepeau, as well as excerpts shared by contributors. This magnificent commemorative publication will be launched by Marrugeku’s Patron Yawuru leader Senator Patrick Dodson.
Artistic Co-director, Director & Creative Producer, Rachael Swain said: “We are thrilled to be sharing this wonderful range of reflections on 25 years of Marrugeku’s practice. The array of writers from community, cultural, artistic and academic backgrounds bring their diverse perspectives on the company’s productions and research laboratories into dialogue with each other for the first time.”
Artistic Co-director, Choreographer & Dancer, Dalisa Pigram added: “We are honoured to join our voices with theirs to share what we have learned along the way and to celebrate Marrugeku’s journey.”
Marrugeku: Telling That Story – edited by Helen Gilbert, Dalisa Pigram & Rachael Swain
Published by Performance Research Books. 385 pages, $56.
The book can be purchased from GleeBooks (AUS) and Centre for Performance Research (UK) through the following links:
https://www.gleebooks.com.au/product/marreguku-telling-that-story
https://thecpr.org.uk/product/marrugeku-telling-that-story
https://www.marrugeku.com.au/research/marrugeku-telling-that-story/
Featured image : ‘Dreaming The Future’, the final scene in the show ‘Cut The Sky’, Perth, 2012