MAPALI - DAWN GATHERING - TEN DAYS ON THE ISLAND

In 2021, Stompin was invited to participate in Mapali, Ten Days on the Island’s second iteration of this Dawn Gathering and Festival opening. Stompin dancers Sammie Lester and Toby McKnight worked with Keia Mcgrady (Tasdance) to create part of the large scale, site-specific spectacular.

“Once more, our North West community will unite to celebrate the break of day with mapali – Dawn Gathering. This stirring Welcome to Country will mark the opening of our 2021 Festival as the sun rises over the Burnie foreshore.

Created and narrated by artist and cultural leader David mangenner Gough, mapali – ‘gathering’ – will celebrate our palawa creation story: how moinee, the great creator, made lutruwita/Tasmania.

Movement director Adam Wheeler (Tasdance), music director Yyan Ng (percussionist) and the Goldberg Aberline Studio work with hundreds of local artists, community groups and schools to create a special event bringing together performers from our Tasmanian Aboriginal community and beyond – elders, singers, dancers, drummers and visual artists.

Share the dawn with us. Connect with your lutruwita/Tasmania community as together, we celebrate the spirit of our heart-shaped island.”