Wai! We're back!

The Perth season of Ngapartji Ngapartji was an incredibly rich time for many reasons. The show was the culmination of 7 years of work between writer/director Scott Rankin and the Jamieson family and the presence throughout the season of Trevor’s walytja (family), particularly his mother Gail and father Arnold who have allowed their stories, sometimes intensely painful, to be shared in Ngapartji Ngapartji remains the overwhelming memory attached to the Perth season. ‘More and more walytja turning up’ is one of Trevor’s lines from the show and indeed each night more and more family came, which felt something of a blessing for the show to continue on its journey.

This week we are sitting with the sorry news that one of our walytja (family) and malpa (friend), kumanara Ajax, passed away on the weekend. For cultural reasons we cannot name the deceased, but Alice Springs and Melbourne audiences may remember the big-spirited woman with the strong and beautiful voice, number one dancer, bringer of so much laughter and joy to all of us who have had the privilege to share time with her on the Ngapartji Ngapartji project. We are all deeply sad at this loss as we extend our thoughts and prayers to her family in Alice Springs, Pukatja, Amata and elsewhere. We will miss her dearly.

Things are very quiet here in Alice Springs after a very successful and busy season at the Melbourne International Arts Festival in October followed by a season at the Sydney Opera House with the workshop version of Ngapartji Ngapartji (the full show will be at the Opera House in June 2007).

Apologies for the absence of news these past two weeks - it’s been a busy but amazing time with so many of us down in Melbourne working and living together, with each day revealing something new – the story from Amanyi, the crow dance that the young men ended up performing in the show with Trevor, and Sadie, first time on stage in her life, dancing the women’s dance in the last few shows with Rhoda and Lorna.