In May 2021, Bangarra Dance Theatre had the privilege of being welcomed to the remote community Kurpartyia located in the Kimberley region south west of Fitzroy Crossing as part of the research and development of SandSong.

SandSong Co-Choreographers Stephen Page and Frances Rings, along with Bangarra’s ensemble of Dance Artists and the company's support crew, spent time on Country with Elders of the community - sharing stories and discussing and shaping ideas for the production.

The artists spent time listening to Country, allowing their senses to explore the stories and expressions of this incredible land - expressions which are then distilled through their bodies as the language of dance.

Dance Artists were able to learn the traditional dances for SandSong from the Cultural Consultants and Community. These dances included Junta: Women’s Traditional Bush Onion Dance, Marjarrka: Men’s Traditional Dance Story and Karnti: Women’s Traditional Bush Potato Dance.

Learning traditional dances while on Country is an incredibly enriching experience. This practice filters the spirit of Country, Story and People into the movement, as it is being learned. The community supports this process and shares important information about some of the deeper contextual knowledges connected to these dances.

Traditional dances are usually danced by owners of the material while on Country, as an activation of knowledge pertinent to place and people. Within the context of live theatre, Bangarra Dance Theatre breathes an additional purpose into these dances. Traditional dance becomes a keystone, activating the spirit of people and Country within a new location and contemporary ceremony.