Mardani (Protection) - 2005, 2014
2005 Milpirri - Jardiwanpa
Warlawurru (Wedge-tail Eagle) / Mardani (Protection) - Boys
Dance Story
Drawn from the Warlawurru (Wedge-tail Eagle) Jukurrpa (Dreaming). For the Eagle Dance, we were given the word mardani (protection). The Eagle is the highest flying bird and can see down to its country. It knows its borders and protects them. In protecting his country, he inspires the Warlpiri to learn how to care for everything that is precious. This dance utilised eagle stomping actions drawn directly from hip-hop vocabulary and reinforced the yellow boys as leaders of the dance, as well as reinforcing clarity around the colouring of the kinship system introduced to make the kinship groups visible.
Choreography
Nick (Japanangka) Power
2005 Milpirri - Jarda Warnpa
Mardani (Protection) - Girls
Description of Dance
Drawn from the Warlawurru (Wedge-tail Eagle) Julurrpa (Dreaming). To choreograph this dance we looked at the idea of the eagle flying high and looking down on its country. Predominantly the eagle dance movements were variations on wide wings. Beginning as single eagles the dance progresses to trios where the dancers have to work cooperatively to make a larger eagle.
Choreography
David (Japaljarri) McMicken and Jessica (Nangala) Rosewarne
2014 Milpirri - Jarda Warnpa
Mardani (Protection) - Youth
Description of Dance
Drawn from the Warlawurru (Wedge-tail Eagle) Julurrpa (Dreaming). The eagle flies the highest of birds and unites the sky (Emu) with the earth (Kangaroo). In order to be a good hunter, you have to know about your prey. This dance uses both males and females. The various routines are designed to assist the dancers in progressively learning. Warlawurru (Wedge-tail Eagle) teaches us that knowledge is everything and that we need to want that knowledge. Warlawurru also teaches us that there are boundaries between ownership and custodianship and that you are not to interfere with other peoples things.
Choreography
Kelly (Napurrula) Beneforti, assisted by Nick (Japanangka) Power (boys choreography) and Caleb Japanangka Patrick
Women's Warlawurru Dance
The dances performed by the youth explore themes that are drawn from the same ceremonial concepts that are seen in the adult dances.
Alice Springs Performance
The wedge-tail eagle puppet featured in the 1992 performance at Yipirinya School called From Little Things Big Thing Grow directed Tim Newth and David McMicken.
