NAISDA Dance College returns to Carriageworks this month to present its end of year production Kamu, directed by Frances Rings.
“Kamu” is the Kala Lagaw Ya (West Torres Strait Island) word meaning mangrove flower. “Like children, the mangrove seeds stay attached to their parent, growing until they are ready to detach and make their salt-water journey onwards" says Rings. “As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, we look to the natural world to inspire, regenerate and sustain us. It also increasingly reveals to us significant changes to our surrounding ecology. As we head towards the 40th anniversary of NAISDA, Kamu characterises the continued cultivation of cultural values inherent to our foundation and our conscious responsibility towards the health of our land and seas.”
Rings will be joined by Dujon Niue, a NAISDA graduate and the artistic director of cultural dance group Arpaka who has created work for the production. Other choreographers include Joel Bray, Ian RT Colless, Penny Mullen, Raymond D. Blanco and Sani Townson.
Kamu plays Carriageworks 25-28 November. Bookings: www.carriageworks.com.au/events/naisda/