Dancers from Orange are part of the Madhu Yinaa dance group which will take part in a national Indigenous dance competition at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday.
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Madhu Yinaa is made up of 24 passionate women and girls from the Central West, Blue Mountains and Western Sydney.
They have been practising together for more than six months to take part in Dance Rites, and are ready to take on some of the best from across the country.
Dance Rites is Australia’s premier national Indigenous dance competition which aims to ensure important cultural knowledge including language, dance, skin markings and instruments is shared from one generation to the next.
For the last few months the group’s members have driven to Cowra one Sunday and Wentworth Falls the next for rehearsals under the guidance of Contemporary Aboriginal choreographer Jo Clancy.
We have a three- and a six-year-old, some teenagers, some in their twenties and a few mums that are competing with their daughters.
- Choreographer Jo Clancy
“This started because there is a group called Wagan Birra who are based in Cowra and I run the Wagana Aboriginal Dancers group,” Ms Clancy said.
“A few dancers from Lithgow and Orange have also connected with me through other projects.”
The name Madhu Yinaa means ‘many women’ in the Wiradjuri language but the group is made up of Wiradjuri, Darug, Gamilaroi, Ngunnawal and Dharawal women and girls.
There is a variety of ages dancing, with the youngest of the performers just three years old. Some are also experienced dancers who have competed at major events.
Ms Clancy said all of the group’s members were looking forward to performing at the Opera House.
“We have a group of 24, which is one of the biggest groups that will be competing at Dance Rites,” she said.
“We have a three- and a six-year-old, some teenagers, some in their twenties and a few mums that are competing with their daughters.
“They’re all really excited.”
Dance Rites heats will take place Sunday morning (10am to 1pm) with the finals taking place in the evening (5pm to 7pm).
Ms Clancy said she hoped people would come along and be part of a day of shared culture, language and excellent dance moves.