2007 – Desert Mob DanceSite Alice Springs NT

Saturday 8th September 2007

Desert Mob DanceSite is a presentation of traditional Indigenous dance from Central Australia. In previous years the event had been staged at the circus lawns at the Araluen Cultural Precinct. This year the event was staged at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station in partnership with NT Parks and Wildlife, and presented by Desart, Artback NT and the Alice Springs Desert Festival to an estimated audience of between 700-900 people. Special guests included, the Mornington Island Dancers from Queensland who were secured to perform by Artback NT.

The event presented 50 Indigenous dancers from six different Indigenous dance groups from Central Australia, from the following art centres, communities and language groups:

• Arrernte, Simpson Desert Dancers – Tangentyere Council, NT
• Arrernte, Antulye Estate Dancers – Amoongana Arts/Irrkerlantye Arts, NT
• Luritja, Papunya Dancers, Ngurratjuta Art Centre, NT
• Luritja, Mt Liebig Dancers, Ngurratjuta Art Centre, NT
• Pitjantjatjara, Tjanpi Dancers, Tjanpi Weavers, SA/ NT
• Pitjantjatjara, Mutijulu Dancers, Mutijulu Foundation, NT
• Ngaanyatjarra, Papulankutja Dancers, Blackstone Art Centre

2008 – Desert Mob DanceSite Alice Springs NT

Friday 26th September 2008

In 2008, DanceSite was again successfully staged at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station in partnership with NT Parks and Wildlife. Presented by Desart, Artback NT and the Alice Springs Desert Festival it occurred on the Desert Mob weekend in late September to an estimated audience of 1000 people. Artback NT secured funding from Arts NT to have the Elcho Island’s Chooky Dancers as a headline act.

In 2008 the event presented over 80 Indigenous dancers from six different Indigenous dance groups from communities and art centres in Central Australia:

• Arrernte, Simpson Desert Dancers – Akeyulurre Inc, NT
• Arrernte, Antulye Dancers – Amoongana Arts/Irrkerlantye Arts, NT
• Arrernte, Ltyente Apurte Dancers – Santa Teresa, NT
• Luritja, Papunya Dancers, Ngurratjuta Art Centre
• Pitjantjatjara, Tjanpi Dancers, Tjanpi Weavers, SA/ NT
• Ngaanyatjarra, Kuruyala Dancers, Blackstone Art Centre, WA
• Walpiri, Warumungu Dancers –  Nyinka Nyunyu/Tennant Creek, NT

As a local and culturally appropriate platform for traditional dancers DanceSite is able to showcase emerging artists and promote further professional performance opportunities for them. Following DanceSite 2008, two dance groups were offered opportunities to perform at the Dreaming Festival, Woodford, Queensland, June 2009 (Tjanpi women and Arrernte men). This invitation is direct acknowledgement to Indigenous artists that their work is of national significance.

Also as a direct result of their performances at DanceSite:

• Tjanpi Desert Dancers are in negotiation with Darwin Festival regarding future opportunities.
• The Warumungu Dancers were offered a dance opportunity at the Regional Arts Australia Conference in Alice Springs;
• The Tjanpi Dancers were offered work at a forthcoming Charles Darwin University Symposium;
• The Arrernte men performed at the recent NAIDOC week celebrations; and
• The Simpson Desert Dancers performed at the opening of the Central Land Council.

2009 – Desert Mob DanceSite Alice Springs NT

Saturday 5th September 2009

In 2009, DanceSite was again staged at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station in partnership with NT Parks and Wildlife, Desart and the Alice Springs Town Council. An estimated audience of 1200 people attended. Traditional Owner to the site Rosalie Kunoth Monks MC’ed the event, with her mentee/granddaughter Amelia alongside.

In 2009 the Artback NT DanceSite event presented over 90 Indigenous dancers from seven different Indigenous dance groups in Central Australia, from the following art centres, communities and language groups:

• Arrernte, Simpson Desert Dancers – Akeyulurre Inc Alice Springs, NT
• Arrernte, Antulye Dancers – Amoonguna, NT
• Luritja, Papunya Tjupi Dancers – Papunya Art Centre, NT
• Ngaanyatjarra Tjanpi Dancers, Tjanpi Weavers – Warakurna, WA
• Pitjantjatjara, Kungkarangalpa Dancers – Amata, SA
• Pitjantjatjara, Rikina Dancers – Amata, SA

Special guests in 2009 were Djilpin Dancers from Beswick have performed to national audiences at the Dreaming Festival and ‘Walking With Spirits’. Djilpin were engaged by Artback NT to headline the event as well as provide professional development to other Dance Groups.

Desert Mob DanceSite encourages the Alice Springs community to celebrate Indigenous traditional dance from Central Australia, providing a cultural backdrop for further appreciation and greater insight into Central Australian Indigenous culture including; dance, ceremony and connection to country.