Aboriginal Children Dance at the Opening of ‘Koorah Coolingah’

Katanning school children dance at Official Opening, Katanning of the ‘Koorah Coolingah: Children Long Ago’ exhibition, 24th February 2006. Berndt Museum of Anthropology, The University of Western Australia.

Aboriginal school children from Katanning played a vital role in the Official Opening at the Perth International Arts Festival exhibition, ‘Koorah Coolingah: Children Long Ago’.

They had been practising their dances for weeks: a group of older girls, then the older boys, followed by the little kids all together.

I had filmed them practising for the last time, just a few hours earlier.

And now, tonight, they were transformed. Their dancing costumes, their body painting, their extraordinary enthusiasm. I was standing beside Uncle Angus Wallam, a tear falling from his cheek. We were all very proud of these Noongar children, these Noongar coolingah. On this Noongar boodja, Noongar country.

Katanning school children perform a choreographed dance at the opening of ‘Koorah Coolingah: Children Long Ago’. Filmed by Nell Ustundag in Katanning, Western Australia, on 24th February 2006. [Berndt Museum of Anthropology, The University of Western Australia]

Translate »

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close