Merrigong Theatre Company, in association with BlakDance, will bring 'Garabari' to the Illawarra next month, presenting acclaimed Wiradjuri choreographer Joel Bray's immersive contemporary corroboree.
The work shares the Giilang of Marramalngidyal Marrambidyagu, a story and song about the making of the Murrumbidgee River, developed on Wiradjuri Country with Elders and artists.
Dunghutti and Gomeroi woman Zoe Brown-Holten will feature as one of the dancers in the production, performing the role of Balana within the story.
Ms Brown-Holten told National Indigenous Times Balana's journey centres on retrieving water from Goanna men who were holding it back on Mount Tumut.
"It's basically about this, this journey that Balana had gone on to get more water from the Goanna men that were hoarding it up on Mount Tumut," she said.
"She drove her bilow here, which is the digging stick right through the crack of one of the mountains where they were hoarding the water and thus the creation of the Murrumbidgee had then come through.
"It then gave water back to the land and the community that Balana came from, the Wiradjuri people."
Ms Brown-Holten said being part of 'Garabari' came after first seeing the work when it premiered.
"I remember seeing the work and being absolutely flabbergasted with the beauty and the complexities of First Nations stories," she said.
"To stumble across a work that celebrates and that shows so much positivity and unity and collaboration, it was just something that was so bizarre to me at that time.
"I was like, I have to get on to this project."
Ms Brown-Holten said the production creates space for audiences to move with the work and leave changed.
"If you've got a problem, you come to you come to 'Garabari' and you just dance it out," she said.
"Leave like a different version of you as you came in.
Ms Brown-Holten said the experience of working with Mr Bray and the wider team has been grounded in shared learning and respect.
"It's been such a wonderful journey," she said.
"Coming into a work where everyone's so open and genuine and so willing to share knowledge and everyone's so respectful, so kind, so creative. I'm a walking sponge at this point."
'Garabari' will be performed at Wollongong Town Hall on Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7 at 7.30pm, before travelling to Dapto Ribbonwood Centre on Saturday, February 14 at 1.30pm and 7.30pm.
The show runs for one hour and 20 minutes with no interval and is recommended for ages 12 and over.
