In September of this year David and Tim traveled to Europe.

They went for two different reasons. Berlin was to explore the notion of 'Truth Telling' and how the city has grappled with its past. Secondly, for research as part of a project, Dance Body Design where the company is looking at the collaborative knowledge gained over the three decades of Tracks artists and the Warlpiri people of Lajamanu working together. So why Europe you may ask? Professor Barbara Glowczewski is an anthropologist based in Paris. She was working in Lajamanu in the 70’s and during that time took amazing photos and videos of the cultural life in Lajamanu. She was around when a group of Lajamanu artists/dancers went to Paris in the 80’s where they performed dances and painted designs from the Jurntu ceremony. This ceremony was the basis for last year’s Milpirri (2018) and Milpirri 2009.

"We were in Paris for over 10 days with Barbara. We shared stories and images going back and forwards into Barbara's archives. This will contribute to the Dance Body Design website which will celebrate the company’s collaboration with Lajamanu and will be a digital archive for the whole community to share and explore its own rich cultural heritage."

"We also caught up with the amazing Nick Power who is rehearsing a new show that will come to Australia next year. Nick was one of the original artists to work with the company on the first Milpirri performances."

During the trip they were fortunate enough to see a variety of shows, installations, exhibitions and in particular performances by Cie Carabosse (Cergy -France) and Agudo Dance Company (Cahors - France). They also got to meet and speak with the Artistic Directors of GRIPs (Berlin - Germany).

There were a few special experiences that have inspired the writing in the company's upcoming 5 year Strategic Plan. These included: a great exhibition, Nous Les Arbres at the Fondation Cartier Pour L’art Contemporain. A beautiful comment on our need to see trees as old, living, knowledgeable, observers of the world, rather than as commodities that can be turned into money. "In Berlin we explored people, places and there acknowledgement of history and truth telling." Tempelhofer Feld was a former innercity airport which had been handed back to the people. The Berlin Wall beside Topographie des Terrors documentation centre, located on the site of buildings which in 1933-45, was the SS Reich Main Security Office, and Gestapo headquarters. "A sobering visit but an amazing truth telling place of remembrance which as Australians we could learn from."

Big thanks to cultural adviser and fellow traveler Christiane Fennell for accompanying David & Tim on their travels.

Explore Further - A short history of the long relationship between Lajamanu & Tracks