Dreamtime at the Australia Pavilion
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"I was originally from the Torres Strait where we lead a joyful and relaxing holiday life, as the island is surrounded by the ocean and full of sunshine," said Leilani Bin-Juda, the manager of Cultural Programs at the Australia Pavilion.
For the people of Mornington Island, dance and song is a cornerstone of their culture and identity. The Mornington Island Dancers will share their unique style with visitors in terms of presenting traditional stories and songs from Far North Queensland.
"The performance from the Mornington Island Dancers features traditional Aboriginal dance that is well known nationally. The group has toured around Australia and overseas since the 1970s. All of the dances come from dreams and stories that relate to and illustrate traditional law," said Roxanne Thomas, the spokesperson for the group.
Performances from the Mornington Island Dancers are about the land, sea and sky, and come from stories passed down from one generation to the next. These dances are a selection allowed to be performed in public at festivals and special celebrations. However, there are many more dances that are only performed for traditional ceremonies on Mornington Island, for example, initiation ceremonies.
Sisters Wendy Nungarrayi Brown and Alma Nungarrayi Granites are from Yuendumu, northwest of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. They have been painting since 1987 and both use mainly acrylic on the linen and canvas. Their paintings have been exhibited extensively around the world. Their works depict dreamtime: the creation stories of their traditional homelands that have been passed down by their ancestors.
B2M is a contemporary Aboriginal singing group from the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory. These young Australians offer a fusion of blues, pop and traditional sounds from their community.
"Within the next three months, we will have 30 more acts coming to Shanghai to delight and inspire visitors to the Australia Pavilion. There will be an interesting collaboration performances from other pavilions to continue the Australian theme of fusion," Sachs said.
