By Dongyun Kwon
The Memo, Healesville is inviting an award-winning First Nations circus team to show their moving acrobatic performance, linking people, country and culture.
Na Djinang Circus (NDC) is a Melbourne-based contemporary circus company working with diverse young artists to share unique insight with the next generation’s hands and feet.
The team will come to Healesville to perform Arterial, where the unseen bonds between the body and the land become beautifully visible.
NDC artistic custodian Harley Mann said Arterial is the second work by Na Djinang with the cast of all First Nations performers.
“We premiered it back in 2021 as a part of the Yirramboi festival. It’s a First Nations circus work about the connections First Nations people have with each other, country and history,” he said.
“We have a way of trusting and supporting each other, and these connections translate beautifully to a circus where safety is literally in each other’s hands.
“Circus has a huge underrepresentation of mob and so even the act of having four black acrobats on stage should be celebrated, let alone the incredible things they do.”
Arterial is a 60-minute four-person circus show.
“During the time we are in Healesville, we will also engage in a number of community activities teaching circus and just entangling ourselves in the community,” Mr Mann said.
“During the show, you will see a combination of tumbling, group acrobatics and pyramids, modern cultural dance and aerial work. The show is woven together with tracks by musician Jason Renehan.”
NDC has performed in Healesville during the National Reconciliation Week this year, but this will be the first time for the team to perform Arterial on a full scale in Healesville as they performed other works and did a short 15-minute excerpt from Arterial last time.
Mr Mann said Healesville is a beautiful community where they had a great time, and his team are excited to share their another work with the community.
“This continent is full of rich and complex history, and Healesville is no exception to this. We are very excited to spend time in this country with the traditional towns and hear some of the stories,” he said.
“As performers, we work in the world of storytelling, and so it’s essential to understand the ones that have taken place before us. It keeps the stories and culture alive and makes our work rich.
“What is great about the continued support of the council and the arts team is that every time we return we get to grow on the relationships and connections we make with mob and audiences.”
The event will be held in the Memo, Healesville from 7.30pm on 7 December.
“I’d like to remind people that performing arts are an essential part of culture, and I encourage the audience to be courageous, take a risk on a show,” Mr Mann said.
“You don’t need to like it. Not every piece of art is for everyone but if you don’t try new things then you will never discover anything exciting.”
For more information, please visit the following website, yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/Arterial-by-Na-Djinang
