Australia Dancing - Munyarryun, Djakapurra (1973

Munyarryun, Djakapurra (1973 - )

Seselja, Loui: Portrait of Djakapurra Munyarryun, 2005

Djakapurra Munyarryun was born in Yirrkala as a member of the Munyarryun clan of northeast Arnhem Land. He was raised with traditional dance and ceremony as an integral part of his life and as a teenager toured Australia with elders from Yirrkala, teaching and conducting traditional dance and music workshops.

In 1991 at the invitation of Stephen Page, Munyarryun joined Bangarra Dance Theatre. His early involvement with the company encompassed leading roles in Praying Mantis Dreaming (1992), Ninni (1994), Ochres (1995), Fish (1997), and Rites (1997), as well as performances as a didgeridoo player, and traditional singer. Munyarryun has also played a pivotal role in Bangarra Dance Theatre through his collaboration, as a cultural consultant, with artistic director Stephen Page, discussing ideas for development, and sharing stories from his people.

Munyarryun and his sister, Guypunura Munyarryun, led the Munyarryun clan in Laka Bunkul, a performance in Bangarra's inaugural Dance Clan (1998) series, a series which showcased short works choreographed by Bangarra Dance Theatre members.

In 1993 Munyarryun played the water spirit in Kevin Lucas' operatic film Black River and also appeared in the film Breaking Through. He performed with Yothu Yindi, Christine Anu and David Page in the ABC special Songlines, and was a featured performer in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Bibliography:

Nicholas Rowe, 'Djakapupra Munyarryun', Dance Europe, 24 (October/November 1999), p. 25.

Research Materials

Oral history | Picture | Reference text | All

Other resources

Find more about Munyarryun, Djakapurra in:

Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
Pictures - Picture Australia
Internet - Google