JourneyOnline
A SPECTACULAR display from Townsville’s Shalom Christian College students sent the crowd wild at the 19th Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival in late June.
The comic ‘Chooky’ dance broke from the largely traditional performances at the three-day, biennial event attended by around 5000 people.
Dressed in funky outfits the students performed their own version of the contemporary Indigenous dance.
The ‘Chooky’ became a worldwide hit when a group from Arnhem Land recorded it and uploaded it to YouTube.
John Morgan, a parent who helped coach the dance troop, told the crowd: “We’d pay respects to the traditional owners of this land.
This act is breaking with the traditional performances you have seen up to now. It is a comedy act and very different.
It is with no disrespect that we perform this dance.”
Onlooker Nicole Hunter, from Cairns, said it had a very different feel to other festival performances.
“I was looking at the crowd and everyone loved it.
It was fantastic,” she said.
A Shalom group also performed traditional dances from north-east Arnhem Land.
Dancer Meryl Nyikalawuy, a 17-year-old Shalom student, said, “I’ve never danced the ‘Chooky’ in public before so it was a bit difficult.
“The crowd enjoyed the performance and it gave me a big lift when I heard them cheering.
“I loved the festival and I’ll definitely come back.”
Sixteen-year-old Shalom dancer, Anthony Pascoe, said the performance felt great.
“The crowd’s reaction gave us all more energy.
“Dancing is a big part of our culture and it’s a great way to keep fit and stay healthy,” he said.
Shalom College Principal, Steve Thomson, said the trip to the festival had been a great success and wonderful education
for students, parents and staff .
“Attending the Laura Festival helped us to build toward Shalom’s NAIDOC celebration.”
The NAIDOC celebration was held on 9 September at their main campus in Condon, Townsville.
This article was originally printed in Shalom News
For more information visit www.ccdeu.org.au
Photo : Shalom students dance at the Laura Festival. Photo by Wayne Quilliam Photography and courtesy of Shalom News
