Keller students perform at 'CAN WA Dreaming'

Following nine weeks of workshops, over 90 students from Kellerberrin District High School performed in ‘CAN WA Dreaming’, a theatrical and dance performance at the annual Agricultural Show on Saturday, 19 September held at the Kellerberrin Showgrounds.

Photo > students perform at CAN WA Dreaming. Photo by Toni Wilkinson

WAAPA performance and dance graduates, Karla Hart and Fleur Hockey worked with the students to create a dance and dramatic performance based on traditional Indigenous themes and contemporary dance. With two days of workshops per week, the students worked on the dance choreography and mask and lantern making for the performance.

In front of a large painted backdrop, the students dressed in black painted with handprints that glowed under ultraviolet lighting. Colourful facemasks and large lanterns combined with professional lighting and sound gave the performance a uniqueness that the hundreds of spectators enjoyed.

Photo> Trent and Reynald McIntosh and Austin Walsh. Photo by Toni Wilkinson.

Highlighting the significance of the project, parent Carrie Yarran said, “It is so exciting to see Indigenous culture being centre stage with the whole community watching. This was an amazing opportunity for Aboriginal people to feel very proud of our culture.”

The next phase of this project involves students from Kellerberrin visiting WAAPA’s Aboriginal theatre studies program, Yirra Yaakin, Noongar Radio and Ab Music in Perth, encouraging them to develop their talents.

This project was coordinated by CAN WA staff from the Perth and Kellerberrin office, with funds from the Australia Council for the Arts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board.