Two granddaughters taking part in traditional dances. Here are some notes regarding the performances.

Bungul (Ceremonial Dances) are used in ceremonies now, passed down for tens of thousands of years through the generations in North Eastern Arnhem Land.

This is the first time children outside of North Eastern Arnhem land have learnt and performed these ancient dances.

The families in Arnhem Land are very excited about this performance today - the children are accorded the same status and privilige to learn and perform these dances because of Traditional Yolngu kinship law

There are 16 distinct clans each with their own languages, dances, ceremonies, artwork and creation stories and half of the clans are divided equally into what Anthropologists call moieties Dhuwa and Yirritja.

Everything in Yolngu life in every level of meaning is designated as being dhuwa or yirritja, a defining balance and blueprint for relationships between all aspects of life in the past, present and future. (like Ying and Yang).

Families, animals, weather, the country, ceremonies, the cosmos - everything.

Todays 2 dances - represent this balance of life - Yirritja and Dhuwa.