Garabari 2022
Plunge into the swirling depths of a new civic ritual by Joel Bray.
Bodies, light and sound entangle and loop to reveal hidden meanings in a reimagined doof inspired by ancient garabari (Corroboree).
Across the globe, First Nations cultures have harnessed the enduring power of rituals to transmit knowledge. Countless generations have undergone rites of passage that have left them changed – closer to others, and more attuned to themselves.
By returning to these unchanging rituals, we are changed as we grow in wisdom and stature in the community.
Garabari draws from this rich well of meaning to create a celebratory dance work that plugs you into this wellspring of energies.
Created by Australian dance’s fast-rising star Joel Bray, and supported by the Tanja Liedtke Foundation as Chunky Move’s inaugural Choreographer in Residence, Garabari has been crafted in close collaboration with the Wiradjuri community of Wagga Wagga.
Garabari features lavish costumes by Wiradjuri fashion designer Denni Francisco, driving beats by Byron Scullin and otherworldly lighting by Katie Sfetkidis.
This ambitious work invites you to join five Indigenous and non-Indigenous performers to gather, to listen and to share the beat.
Creative Team
Choreographer/Director: Joel Bray
Performers: Chandler Connell, Luke Currie-Richardson, Tra Mi Dinh, Mason Kelly, Amelia Jean O’Leary
Understudy: Karlia Cook
Project Elder: Uncle Christopher Kirkbright
Sound & Music: Byron Scullin
Lighting and Projection Designer: Katie Sfetkidis
Costume Designer: Denni Francisco
Dramaturg: Luke George
Collaborating Elder: Uncle James Ingram
Community Engagement Coordinator: Visual Dreaming
Stage Manager: Lucie Sutherland
Rehearsal Director: Rachel Coulson
Costume Fabricator: Fiona Holley
AV Programmer/Operator: Alex Nguyen
Lighting Programmer/Operator: Adelaide Harney
Garabari is supported through Arts House in Creation, the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative, the Australian Government through the Indigenous Languages and Arts program and through the Australia Council for the Arts, the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, BlakDance through BlakForm, the Besen Family Foundation, Creative Partnerships Australia through MATCH Lab, and Eastern Riverina Arts.
Joel Bray is supported by Chunky Move and the Tanja Liedtke Foundation through the Chunky Move Choreographer In Residence program.
World Premiere Season
Arts House
1–10 December 2022
Previews: Thu 1 Dec & Fri 2 Dec 7pm
Sat 3 Dec 7pm
Sun 4 Dec 5pm
Wed 7–Sat 10 Dec 7pm
Commissioned by Chunky Move
Presented by Arts House, Chunky Move and Joel Bray Dance
Image: Jeff Busby
Image: Jeff Busby
Image: Jeff Busby