The past five seasons of Australia's oldest international arts festival - the Perth Festival - have been particularly momentous, with Ian Grandage's groundbreaking series of programs representing deep cultural and philosophical themes: Karla (fire, 2020), Bilya (river, 2021), Wardan (ocean, 2022), Djinda (stars, 2023) and last year's culmination Ngaangk (sun, 2024).

The triumphant exposure celebrated and continued the evolution of Noongar culture and Country, amplifying the connection and culture of the Noongar nation, which encompasses the entire South-West of WA, spans two oceans, five regional jurisdictions, 14 unique subgroups and more than 45,000 years of culture… all still well alive through songlines and stories.

The 2025 festival under new artistic director Anna Reece is no different, with a program highlight the spectacular homage to the legendary Middar Aboriginal Dance Group, which has evolved over almost 50 years to a revered and iconic organisation.

Middar's (ongoing) legacy has been hailed at a special Festival exhibition via a riveting, expansive collection of photos, articles and audio recordings that highlight many of the group's memorable moments over the journey.

Middar's journey began in 1976 in Boorloo (Perth) with four Aboriginal men: Richard Walley (Nyoongar-Yamatji), Ernie Dingo (Yamatji), Ken Buckskin (Nunga) and John Kelly (Arrernte) who were later joined by other significant members, and they quickly rose to prominence after government laws stifled Aboriginal cultural acts in the mid-20th century.

Rickeeta Walley, co-director of Perth Festival's Middar Koora ba yeyi exhibition with her brother Alton and father Richard – one of Middar's founders – said much of the focus was on the early 1980s and 90s, when the young men were touring the world.

"We've got black and white photos and great images of our Middar dancers in our Traditional paint and wear in London, in Glasgow, with international artists and superstars who came to Perth and were welcomed by them... a lot of beautiful, cross-cultural exchange photos, featuring some of our very senior people today, and seeing them as young blokes with mullets," she told National Indigenous Times.

During their early days, Middar was among a handful of public-performing Aboriginal dance groups in the South West, and over the years many more Noongar performers have toured with them on the road.

That Rickeeta, Alton and their two brothers were dancing from a young age is not surprising, but they weren't the only Middar descendants that pivoted to performance.

"Interestingly, everyone has gone into arts or dance or some form within the community," Rickeeta said of the many children, grandchildren, nephews and cousins of Middar members.

"What's really beautiful is, from a really small group of Aboriginal men that came together in the 1970s to start their dance, there's now hundreds and hundreds of us that have danced under Middar.

"That's always been a really special thing, Noongar dance is very much part of our community now, there's so many groups, it is amazing."

A few years after Middar's inception, other "incredible dancers" from across Australian and overseas danced with Middar, before its later focus on Noongar culture, with those formative years featuring dancers from different countries and cultures performing in the Southwest.

Middar soon garnered much interest and acclaim, as people new to seeing Aboriginal cultural practices and performances wanting more.

"They started getting bookings for various different jobs, and invitations to perform internationally. By the 1980s they were touring all around the world and now they have visited every single continent around the world, which is pretty amazing," Rickeeta said.

"There was a lot of a lot of people practicing culture, and a lot of things happening around the place, but I think for them there was a long time where we weren't allowed to practice our culture publicly.

"And over time there was some loss of culture here and there because of it being illegal, so there were always people in the community maintaining culture and carrying it on.

"I think what made Middar iconic was they were doing it publicly for the first time, in a very long time."

As interest grew in the high energy and skill of traditional Aboriginal dance and song, Middar were invited to perform across Australia, and soon the world, savouring cross-cultural exchanges with other Indigenous people and performers abroad.

The group later ventured into the dramatic arts (registering as an Aboriginal Theatre Trust), seeing it as inherent to many Aboriginal cultures, and they fast became an iconic cultural storyteller on the big stage via dance, song and music.

Celebrities and fellow performers were also fans, with superstar artists such as KISS, Stevie Wonder and recently Harry Styles welcomed to Noongar Boodjar by Middar performers.

As the youngest child and only daughter of Richard Walley, Rickeeta feels blessed to share the stage and dancing with her dad and brothers, after "being the only girl for a long time".

"Luckily I had mum and my aunties to show me some dance … because the men are so strong in their dancing, we don't share a lot between men and women in Noongar culture," said Rickeeta, who now dances often in the community, while teaching young girls, carrying on her dad's songs, and her favourite thing - teaching dance within women's prisons where "a lot of Aboriginal women are keen to learn their culture through dance and song".

"It's a lot of cultural learning for those women, because with the cultural dance, you're not just learning the dance moves, but also the stories behind the dances: the language, the songs, why we paint certain ways, what colours we can wear."

Middar Aboriginal Theatre has taken Noongar culture to 32 countries, with an estimated 10 million people experiencing their live performances ... to be another, only a few days remain to hail the one of the country's most defining Aboriginal acts, with live performances by Middar dancers this Saturday evening featuring special appearances from some original Middar members.

Middar Koora ba yeyi is at Subiaco Theatre Centre until March 1 (11am to 5pm) and 11am-7pm on Saturday, which features live performances by Middar dancers, and special appearances some original members at 6pm.