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WOMADELAIDE 2001
program highlights
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David Blanasi and White Cockatoo Performing Group (Australia) |
Widely regarded as one
of the world’s greatest exponents of the didjeridu, David Blanasi,
a Wugularr elder from the Miaili language group, Northern Territory, brings
his traditional dance and performance group White Cockatoo to Womadelaide
for the first time in 2001. David ‘Bomb’ Blanasi, called so because
“he plays the didjeridu very hard, straight out, no muckin’ around”, was
born around 1930 and learned to play the didjeridu at an early age.
He is recognised for his wide repertoire and musical skills accompanying
ceremonial song and dance, which has kept David busy and in demand throughout
Arnhem Land for much of his life. David has travelled and performed
extensively throughout the world for over three decades, bringing the instrument
to national and international prominence for the first time. In the
‘60s, David taught Australian entertainer Rolf Harris how to play the instrument,
appearing on Rolf’s first BBC TV show. In 1998, David was invited
back to the UK to perform with Rolf, marking a 32 year reunion. As
well as master of performance on the didjeridu, David is a master craftsmen,
producing high quality didjeridu for sale.
The White Cockatoo
Performing Group hail from Arnhem Land, a region rich in traditional
Aboriginal ceremony and law. The company’s songmen are Mr Jack Nawilil
and Mr David Yirindilli, elder songmen from Maningrida skilled in the rhythmic
use of voice and click sticks in corroboree. Dance captain, is Horace
Walla Walla, former didjeridu player and lead singer of The Sunrize Band,
and didjeridu accompanist and apprentice to David Blanasi, is Darryl Brown.
The company has toured internationally over the last few years, performing
in Canada, the United States, the UK and Europe. |
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