Dancing to the beat of aboriginal and modern
View(s):Well-known Australian indigenous dancer, choreographer and teacher Albert David was in Sri Lanka from June 24 to 26 for a series of performances and workshops in schools and universities. Having held a workshop for the students of the Abhina Academy of Performing Arts, he performed with them on June 26 at the BMICH, at an event organised by the Australian High Commission.
One dancer to another: Albert David offers a traditional greeting to Vajira and daughter Upeka. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Raised in the capital of Torres Straits Islands, Thursday Island, after graduating from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) in 1994, Albert joined the famous indigenous Australian dance company Bangarra Dance Theatre and also danced for Australian Ballet.
What makes Albert David’s work significant is that he incorporates contemporary dance to Aboriginal traditional dance, and not the other way around. He is first an Aboriginal traditional dancer who has succeeded in including contemporary dance to his style.
According to him, contemporary dance is the tool he exploits to reach a larger audience, and the fusion between both dances enables the rest of the world to have a better understanding and a greater respect of the culture with which he grew up.
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