MIRRAMU Dance Company is in full swing with final development work on its production,  “Morning Star.”  

Yesterday a group of performance artists from Yirrkala in Arnhem Land arrived at Mirramu Creative Arts Centre on the shores of Lake George near Bungendore. With them was 2012 Deadly Award winner for “Dancer of the Year,” Janet Munyarryun.

They’ll be joining Albert David and fellow members of Mirramu in putting the finishing touches to a new work that fuses traditional and contemporary dance and music, drawing on the ancient Yolngu Morning Star story – an ancient life cycle story of great cultural significance.

Performances that will take place over three days as part of the “Enlighten” festival are the culmination of this two year cross-cultural project, supported by the Australia Council as parts of its “21st Century Stories” program. During the program, Mirramu member travelled to Arnhem Land and the Arnhem Land dancers travelled to Mirramu, during the coldest part of the year.

David believes the work is a significant statement about reconciliation with Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists working together first at Yirrkala last year and now at Mirramu.

“Morning Star” will include an original music score by Airi Ingram and the project, with artistic direction from Elizabeth Cameron Dalman and cultural consultancy from Morning Star story custodian Banula Marika, continues Mirramu’s commitment to presenting work focussed on socially significant issues.

One of the most distinguished participants is the charismatic Djakapurra Munyarryun, formerly the star of Bangarra Dance Theatre and a featured performer in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

“Morning Star” at the James O Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery of Australia, March 1-3, bookings to www.ticketek.com.au