Regional Kinships Unearthed in Contemporary Dance

This piece explores how Raymond Blanco, while researching his extensive family history, collaborated with BlakDance to create "Bunyi Bunyi Bumi," a contemporary dance piece for the AsiaTOPA Melbourne arts festival. The performance delves into the cultural connections between diverse Asia-Pacific communities, including Indigenous Australian and Southeast Asian descent. The ensemble comprises artists from various cultural backgrounds, bringing unique perspectives to the project. The creative process uncovered shared traditional movements, languages, and cultural norms, enriching the contemporary performance. Anthropologists have revealed historical links between Australia's First Nations people and Southeast Asian communities, predating colonial settlement. The show marks its global debut at Bunjil Place in Melbourne from February 20 to 23, offering a blend of Acehnese body percussion, Indonesian song, and Aboriginal dances that rebuild historic connections disrupted by colonialism and challenge contemporary performance norms