The performance of Waŋa — which means spirit — starts behind a thin veil, with a glimpse of the “in-between world” and an ancient Yolŋu funeral ceremony.
Telling the story of a spirit’s journey after death, Larrakia choreographer Gary Lang has worked with Rirratjŋu lore man and ceremonial advisor Banula Marika to create the performance.
“This performance is called Spirit and it’s the spirit of the Dhuwa clans,” Mr Marika said in Yolŋu Matha, with assistance from an interpreter.
“When I pass, my spirit will travel back to my homeland, the homeland that we’re telling this story about.”
“This is also my other home and place where my spirit comes from and my clan.”
The collaboration between the NT Dance Company, MIKU Performing Arts and Darwin Symphony Orchestra attempts to capture the pain and the relief of a spirit’s passing.
Mr Lang said his late grandmother also taught him about the spirit world.
“She said ‘what happens Gary, in the spirit world, when that spirit has to come to the physical world, there’s tears of sadness there because it’s a loss and there’s tears of joy in the physical world’,” Mr Lang said.
“and [after death] it works in reverse, there’s tears of sadness because there’s a loss and there’s tears of joy because it’s going back home.”
He said the performance tried to represent the process of passing through a veil from the physical world into an “in-between world”.
“We don’t know that in-between world,” he said.
“Between that veil and before you actually step into the heavens, I think that’s where all the ceremony happens in culture.
“That it helps you to leave all the physical attachments behind and then you step into the world of wonder.”
Funeral ceremonies can last for days, weeks or months in Yolŋu culture, including in Mr Marika’s community of Yirrkala.
“It depends on who the person is, the season, what’s happening with the weather, it’s not like a clock,” he said.
“It’s the time for what needs to happen for that person and for the family.”
In this performance, the ancient story of a spirit on its path home — guided by the morning star — comes together with a modern interpretation of grief and mourning.
“Building up a relationship with family over in east Arnhem Land, it’s not only a one day or two day thing, it’s basically a lifetime of connection, making that connection, forming that trust,” Mr Lang said.
“I’m still learning, and especially in traditional culture, I’m still learning.
“I don’t say I know it all but I have to do the right things by asking permission.”
Mr Marika has been more than willing to share his knowledge with others.
“It’s helping to come together and learn each other’s culture and have a better understanding of each other,” he said.
“So people can understand our culture that’s been around for over 80,000.”
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